Written question asked by Andrew George (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 28 October 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 13 November 2003. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Thursday, 13 November 2003 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the importation of wild caught (a) parrots and (b) other birds into the UK.

Answer: Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to reduce the importation of wild caught (a) parrots and (b) other birds into the UK. [135811] Mr. Morley: The international trade in all parrots and many other species of wild birds is strictly regulated under Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97, which implements the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) within the EU. It is an offence to import CITES specimens without the appropriate documentation and trade is only permitted if we are satisfied that the specimens have been lawfully acquired and that the trade will not be detrimental to the wild populations of the species concerned.

Secondary information