Changes in EU/ Cites Regulations

[Geomyda]

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/...11:0032:EN:PDF
Any thoughts, on possible consequences?

[Kirkie]

I didn't see many chelonian species listed that aren't being captive bred in the EU, Aldabras a possible exception.*I think the ban on wild caught Star, Horsfields and Homes hingeback is a timely one.

[egyptiandan64]

Not sure if it will really help With the Stars they only list Pakistan and not India and Bangladesh. With the Horsfields they only list one country (Kazakhstan). With Home's hingebacks they list 2 countries, Benin and Togo. With Bell's hingebacks they list 2 countries Benin and Mozambique. They are all found in more countries than that, so not sure if it will help as they didn't do all.

Danny

[Geomyda]

Originally Posted by egyptiandan64

Not sure if it will really help With the Stars they only list Pakistan and not India and Bangladesh. With the Horsfields they only list one country (Kazakhstan). With Home's hingebacks they list 2 countries, Benin and Togo. With Bell's hingebacks they list 2 countries Benin and Mozambique. They are all found in more countries than that, so not sure if it will help as they didn't do all.

Danny

Of course Danny, the other anomaly is this is an EU regulation so some of these species will still of course be legally shipped to the USA, Japan and I suspect increasingly China.
Whilst I have no problem with implementation of CITES rules for conservation reasons, it seems this situation just will create further complication and possible loopholes for efficient enforcement.
It would be very interesting to hear the views on the UK CITES enforcement team on this new regulation?
Personally, I suspect it may well lead to an increase in confiscations of shipments as they pass through our Borders.

[Kirkie]

Possible the EU have done their homework and pinpointed key distribution points rather than home countries for the species mentioned.

I was puzzled by the blanket ban on Cuora as I don't see how it helps their wild status aside from allowing the EU to enter a plea of "not guilty" as the steadily go extinct.

[Geomyda]

Originally Posted by Kirkie

Possible the EU have done their homework and pinpointed key distribution points rather than home countries for the species mentioned.

I was puzzled by the blanket ban on Cuora as I don't see how it helps their wild status aside from allowing the EU to enter a plea of "not guilty" as the steadily go extinct.

I think it would be a very good idea if Tim Luffman or his colleagues at the UK CITES enforcement team could give some additional guidance on this revised regulation?
What is a frustration, is the fact they did not use this opportunity to revise the anomalies that surround the trade in Trachemys spp!

[EJ]

...and how do they prove orign?

Aldabras are not native to the seychelles.

It must must be nice that the government has that kind of money to come up with a basically worthless proposal.

[Geomyda]

Originally Posted by EJ

...and how do they prove orign?

Aldabras are not native to the seychelles.

It must must be nice that the government has that kind of money to come up with a basically worthless proposal.

This is an EU regulation, 27 member states; a number of whom are technically bankrupt.

[EJ]

I don't understand your point. Money had to have changed hands to draft this proposal.

It is insanely ambiguous and impossible to implement because of the specificity of the proposal. It makes no sense.

Originally Posted by Geomyda

This is an EU regulation, 27 member states; a number of whom are technically bankrupt.

[Geomyda]

Originally Posted by EJ

I don't understand your point. Money had to have changed hands to draft this proposal.

It is insanely ambiguous and impossible to implement because of the specificity of the proposal. It makes no sense.

Indeed it has, however, I suspect the source data is derived from the manifests of shipping documents and represents countries whom have traded the stated species in the past.
What is rather strange, is the fact that these EU CITES regulations are at odds with the wider international trade in fauna & Flora, which frankly can be considered rather confusing.