§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what additional controls she is proposing to deal with trophy hunting, with specific reference to discussions at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. [188118]
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§ Mr. MorleyWe believe that sufficient controls already exist to regulate the trade in hunting trophies and this issue has not been included in the agenda for discussion at the Conference of CITES Parties, which is to take place in Bangkok next month. The EU can prohibit the importation of particular species as hunting trophies if it considers the hunt to be unsustainably managed.
§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what rules govern hunted trophy imports into(a) the UK and (b) the EU; and if she will make a statement. [188934]
§ Mr. MorleyUnder the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), trade in hunting trophies is permitted only where the specimens were lawfully acquired and the trade will not be detrimental to the conservation of the species. This applies both to imports to the UK and to the EU as a whole.
Import permits are not needed for trophies of species listed in Appendix II of CITES, where these are being imported as personal effects, although the owner will need to provide customs with a copy of the permit issued by the exporting country.
Where there is evidence that hunting trophies are being imported illegally, or that the trade is unsustainable, we shall not hesitate to take action as appropriate. Such action could include making formal representations to the CITES Standing Committee or the EU member states to suspend trade, and advice to HM Customs and Excise to seize trophies that have been imported illegally.