Written question asked by Mike Hancock (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 8 March 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 10 March 2006. It was answered by Lord Knight of Weymouth (Labour) on Monday, 13 March 2006 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Animals (Imports/Exports)

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will introduce measures to prohibit the (a) import, (b) export and (c) re-export of (i) primates and (ii) marine mammals; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: The import, export and re-export of primates and most marine mammals, including all whales and dolphins, monk seals, fur seals, sea otters, and Canadian populations of walrus, is already strictly regulated under Council Regulation 338/97, which implements the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) within the EU. Imports of harp and hood seal pup skins are also prohibited under the Import of Seal Skins Regulations 1996.These controls already give us adequate powers to suspend trade in primates and most marine mammals if necessary. However, our scientific advisors, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, do not consider that there are any conservation grounds for taking such action at this time.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 58311; 443 c1850-1W;443 c1850-1W
Session: 2005-06
Subjects: Animal welfare Animals Export controls Import controls Marine animals Primates
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk