DEPARTMENT FOR
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS News Release (388/08) issued by
COI News Distribution Service. 11 December 2008
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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