Written question asked by David Drew (Labour) on Tuesday, 7 September 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 16 September 2004. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Thursday, 16 September 2004 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 her policy is on the resumption of a legal ivory trade; and what representations she has made to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species on this issue.

Answer: Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the resumption of a legal ivory trade; and what representations she has made to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species on this issue. [188119] Mr. Morley: The UK Government and the other EU member states take the view that no decision on commercial trade in ivory should be taken outside the framework agreed at the last Conference of CITES Parties in Santiago. This allowed for a one-off sale of ivory stocks held by Botswana, Namibia and South Africa subject to certain strict conditions, which have yet to be met. It is our view that it would be inappropriate to consider any wider resumption in the commercial trade in ivory until there has been a proper assessment of the wider impact of this proposed one-off sale. This is therefore the line that the UK and other member states will take at the forthcoming CITES conference in Bangkok.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 188119; 424 c1664W;424 c1662W
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species Nature conservation Trade Ivory
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk