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Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Answer

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many (a) prosecutions and (b) successful prosecutions there were under the (i) Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976 and (ii) Control on Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations (COTES) 1997 in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [131987] Mr. Mullin: The 1976 Act originally implemented the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in the UK. In 1984, however, it was largely superseded by EC legislation, which implemented CITES throughout the European Union. The 1984 legislation was then itself replaced by revised EC Regulations which came into force on 1 June 1997. There is no central record of prosecutions or convictions of offences under the COTES regulations. However, we are aware that since 1 June 1997 at least 27 cases have been brought under the COTES regulations, 10 of which resulted in convictions. Of the remaining 17 cases, seven have led to a formal caution and 10 are awaiting trial.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

354 c923-4W; 131987

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species Animal products Exports Imports Prosecutions Nature conservation Wildlife

Legislation

Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976

Control on Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations 1997

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk