SUMMER HOLIDAYMAKERS WARNED: BE CAREFUL BUYING SOUVENIRS

19 Jul 2005 11:45 AM

Summer holidaymakers should be careful to ensure the souvenirs of their travels abroad don't violate UK and international laws, Biodiversity Minister Jim Knight warned today.

Mr Knight said that travellers needed to take special care that the souvenirs they brought home did not contain products derived from animals or plants protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

"It's great to bring home mementos of the summer holidays - but holidaymakers should make sure they're aware of the laws dealing with the trade in endangered species," he said.

"The illegal trade in souvenirs for tourists threatens some of the world's most endangered animals and plants. Trade controls exist to protect these species, and travellers' shopping decisions can help them survive.

"Stopping the trade in these products helps to protect important endangered species - often the very animals and plants that people are actually travelling to see.

"It can be tempting to buy exotic souvenirs like reptile-skin handbags and ivory carvings while on holidays abroad, but travellers should be aware of international controls.

"Some products made from endangered species are easily identifiable - but others can be more difficult to spot, making it harder to know which goods to avoid buying as souvenirs or gifts. It's important for global travellers to inform themselves of the issues surrounding trade in endangered species."

More than 800 species of animals and plants are currently banned from international trade, including tigers, most populations of rhinos and elephants, and whales, and a further 33,000 are strictly controlled, including many turtles, corals, reptiles, orchids and cacti.

HM Revenue & Customs has responsibility for enforcing the sanctions on importing endangered species or their derivatives. Between 1 April and 31 December 2004 over 775,000 items were seized under CITES, including over 7,000 live animals and birds.

Banned goods include products made from tiger, leopard and jaguar skins; traditional medicines containing tiger bone, rhino horn, or other highly endangered plants and animals. Strictly controlled items include tortoiseshell goods; and jewellery made from endangered coral.

Mr Knight said that if travellers were considering bringing back exotic souvenirs from abroad, before travelling they should check with Defra about which products were legal, and the permits that may be required.

"If you try to import controlled goods without valid permits, or try to bring banned goods into the country, your goods will be seized and in more serious cases you could face further penalties," he said.

Travellers can also check while they are abroad by contacting the CITES Management Authority of their host country, if applicable. Contact details can be found at http://www.cites.org.

A brief guide to some of the most common products travellers are likely to come across is available at
http://www.ukcites.gov.uk/travel/default.htm.

Notes to Editors

1. The 'Washington' Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, more commonly known as CITES, aims to protect certain plants and animals by regulating and monitoring their international trade to prevent it reaching unsustainable levels. The Convention entered into force in 1975, and the UK became a Party in 1976. There are more than 150 Parties to the Convention.

2. The CITES Secretariat is administered by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

3. CITES regulates international trade in over 30,000 species, of which approximately 25,000 are plants. These species are listed in three appendices.

4. In 1976 the Secretary of State for the Environment designated the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, as the CITES Scientific Authority for plants. With over 200 years of botanical expertise RBG Kew helps implement CITES on a national and international level, providing Defra with scientific advice on plant species in trade.

5. Statistical information for seizures of under CITES can be found in the HM Revenue & Customs Spring Report at www.hmrc.gov.uk."

Trade Hotspots Around The World

Sri Lanka and the Maldives

Watch out for shops selling entire turtle shells, or bracelets, earrings and hair clips made from "tortoiseshell". These can not be brought back to the EU. Some of the corals for sale will require an export permit to be brought back home.

The Philippines

Remembering your holiday with a sea shell is tempting, but some come from endangered species, like the giant clam . You will need an export permit to bring one home.

India, Nepal and Pakistan

Skins from leopards, jaguars, tigers and other protected cats are quite often available in smaller shops and frontier markets. These can not be brought back legally into the EU. You may also come across garments using 'Shahtoosh'. This wool comes from a critically endangered species of Tibetan antelope and again international trade is banned.

Africa

Ivory and elephant product souvenirs can be found for sale in shops, hotels and markets, in many African (and Asian) countries. Only in the case of Zimbabwe, can these be brought back to the EU. (Travellers may return home with a limited number of ivory or elephant hide products so long as they are for personal use only and not resold. There are maximum allowances per person and the seller must give you a personal effects export permit issued by the Zimbabwean Government which you will have to show to UK Customs on your return.) This does not apply to any other country where all trade is banned and elephant and ivory products should be avoided altogether.

Each year UK Customs make many seizures from holidaymakers and business travellers returning from Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, the Seychelles, South Africa and Tanzania.

Watch out too for succulents from South Africa and orchids. (NB Madagascar doesn't ban the trade in their wild plants) Many of these are banned from trade. Others will require an export permit.

Far East, especially Thailand and Indonesia

Flower markets offer protected species of orchids or carnivorous plants for sale. Cut flowers bought from reputable stores may be exempt from controls. Watch out too for anything made from snake and lizard skin - many species are protected by CITES. It may be illegal to bring some products such as briefcases, handbags and shoes back to this country. Others will require an export permit.

Mexico

Be wary if you are offered cacti by anyone other than a reputable nursery. Many species are banned from trade and even seeds from Mexican species originating in Mexico (NB this is an important distinction) require an export permit.

Cuba and the Caribbean

Travellers should be aware that most of the hard coral species (i.e.: those commonly sold as souvenirs) that occur in Cuban and Caribbean waters are listed on CITES. This includes species described as Black coral, Cable or Bush coral, Hump coral, Fire coral and Lace coral. As with the shells of the Queen conch, these all require a CITES export permit to be brought back. The same goes for many of the reptile skin products that you may be offered, as well as many orchids.

Elsewhere

This is not an exhaustive list - many of these products can be found at almost any tourist destination. Even in Europe, coats and bags made out of jaguar, leopard or other protected cat species may be available, as can jewellery made of tortoiseshell and ivory and traditional medicines derived from rhinos and tigers.

More Information

For more information, and to check whether you can bring back a particular item, contact Defra's Global Wildlife Division on 0117 372 8749.

Public enquiries 08459 335577;
Press notices are available on our website
www.defra.gov.uk
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