Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
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Introduction of new charging system for CITES licences
Defra has today announced a new charging system for licences to deal in endangered species, to maintain spending on important wildlife projects.
Under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) licences are required for the trade in listed species. Over the next three years the Government will phase in new charges, with traders paying the full cost of processing and issuing licences.
Wildlife Minister, Huw Irranca-Davies said:
"Endangered species are extremely valuable to the world's natural environment and this new full cost recovery charging system is being introduced after consultation with everyone involved.
"Full charging for these commercial licences will be phased in over the next three years to help businesses adjust and we will be providing practical advice to help minimise their costs.
"Conservation projects are vital to helping us protect our wildlife for future generations and I have made sure that important projects will not be charged for the licences.
"Buying and selling endangered species that aren't accompanied by a licence remains a crime and we will continue to take action on any evidence of illegal trading."
Measures to help businesses that trade in CITES species include:
* Allowing businesses to buy a licence that covers multiple CITES specimens, reducing the cost per item;
* Issuing guidance that will help ensure applications can be submitted in the most effective manner; and
* Monitoring the size and scale of the trade in CITES goods and adjusting fees and guidance as necessary.
Notes to Editors
1. Full details on the new charging scheme can be found at : http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/trade-crime/cites/index.htm
2. The new charging regime will be introduced on 6 April 2009. A consultation was issued on 4 February 2008 on the best way to introduce full cost recovery of CITES licences http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2008/080204b.htm
3. CITES is an international agreement signed up to 172 countries. It helps conserve the world's most endangered species by controlling the trade in approximately 5,000 species of species of animal and 28,000 types of plant - from primates to coral and rare orchids.
4. Trading in CITES species without a licence causes serious conservation issues for the world's wildlife. Penalties for non-compliance include an unlimited fine and up to seven years imprisonment.
5. Defra is committed to tackling wildlife crime, funding the National Wildlife Crime Unit, and is secretariat for the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW.) PAW is a multi-agency body comprising representatives of the organisations involved in wildlife law enforcement in the UK. It provides opportunities for statutory and non-Government organisations to work together to combat wildlife crime.
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