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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of Government support for the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species on the volume in trade of wild caught (a) parrots and (b) other birds imported into (i) Europe and (ii) the UK since the UK signed the Convention. [135820] Mr. Morley: The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) aims to protect certain plants and animals by regulating and monitoring their international trade to prevent it reaching unsustainable levels. Currently CITES regulates international trade in over 30,000 species, of which approximately 25,000 are plants. The Convention came into force in 1975, and the UK became a party in 1976. Pre-Convention figures concerning the importation of parrots and other birds are not available. No specific study has been made of the impact of the Convention on the trade in these species. However, all EU member states are required to provide annual reports on the trade in CITES species. These are closely monitored by the European Commission, and powers are available to enable member states to take urgent action in the event that a particular pattern of trade is judged to be unsustainable.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

135820; 413 c420W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Birds Conservation Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species Import controls Imports Europe Trade Wildlife Parrots

Link

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