51996AG0706(03)

COMMON POSITION (EC) No 26/96

adopted by the Council on 26 February 1996 with a view to adopting Council Regulation (EC) No . . ./96 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein

(96/C 196/03)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 130s (1) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2),

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189c of the Treaty (3),

(1) Whereas Regulation (EEC) No 3626/82 (4) applies the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora in the Community with effect from 1 January 1984; whereas the purpose of the Convention is to protect endangered species of fauna and flora through controls on international trade in specimens of those species;

(2) Whereas, in order to improve the protection of species of wild fauna and flora which are threatened by trade or likely to be so threatened, Regulation (EEC) No 3626/82 must be replaced by a Regulation taking account of the scientific knowledge acquired since its adoption and the current structure of trade; whereas, moreover, the abolition of controls at internal borders resulting from the Single Market necessitates the adoption of stricter trade control measures at the Community's external borders, with documents and goods being checked at the customs office at the border where they are introduced;

(3) Whereas the provisions of this Regulation do not prejudice any stricter measures which may be taken or maintained by Member States, in compliance with the Treaty, in particular with regard to the holding of specimens of species covered by this Regulation;

(4) Whereas it is necessary to lay down objective criteria for the inclusion of species of wild fauna and flora in the Annexes to this Regulation;

(5) Whereas the implementation of this Regulation necessitates the application of common conditions for the issue, use and presentation of documents relating to authorization of the introduction into the Community and the export or re-export from the Community of specimens of the species covered by this Regulation; whereas it is necessary to lay down specific provisions relating to the transit of specimens through the Community;

(6) Whereas it is for a management authority of the Member State of destination, assisted by the scientific authority of that Member State and, where appropriate, taking into account any opinion of the Scientific Review Group, to decide on the requests for introduction of specimens into the Community;

(7) Whereas it is necessary to supplement the provisions on re-export with a consultation procedure, in order to limit the risk of infringement;

(8) Whereas, in order to guarantee effective protection of species of wild fauna and flora, additional restrictions may be imposed on the introduction of specimens into, and the export thereof from, the Community; whereas, with regard to live specimens, these restrictions may be supplemented by restrictions at Community level on the holding or movement of such specimens within the Community;

(9) Whereas it is necessary to lay down specific provisions applicable to captive-born and bred, or artificially propagated specimens, to specimens which are personal or household effects, and to non-commercial loans, donations or exchanges between registered scientists and scientific institutions;

(10) Whereas there is a need, in order to ensure the broadest possible protection for species covered by this Regulation, to lay down provisions for controlling trade and movement of specimens within the Community, and the conditions for housing specimens; whereas the certificates issued under this Regulation, which contribute to controlling these activities, must be governed by common rules on their issue, validity and use;

(11) Whereas measures should be taken to minimize the adverse effects on live specimens of transport to their destination, from or within the Community;

(12) Whereas, to ensure effective controls and to facilitate customs procedures, customs offices should be designated, with trained personnel responsible for carrying out the necessary formalities and corresponding checks where specimens are introduced into the Community, in order to assign them a customs-approved treatment or use within the meaning of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 of 12 October 1992 establishing the Community Customs Code (1), or where they are exported or re-exported from the Community; whereas there should also be facilities guaranteeing that live specimens are adequately housed and cared for;

(13) Whereas the implementation of this Regulation also calls for the designation of management and scientific authorities by the Member States;

(14) Whereas informing the public and making them aware of the provisions of this Regulation, particularly at border crossing points, is likely to encourage compliance with these provisions;

(15) Whereas, in order to ensure effective enforcement of this Regulation, Member States should closely monitor compliance with its provisions and, to that end, cooperate closely between themselves and with the Commission; whereas this requires the communication of information relating to the implementation of this Regulation;

(16) Whereas the monitoring of levels of trade in the species of wild fauna and flora covered by this Regulation is of crucial importance for assessing the effects of trade on the conservation status of species; whereas detailed annual reports should be drawn up in a common format;

(17) Whereas, in order to guarantee compliance with this Regulation, it is important that Member States impose sanctions for infringements in a manner which is both sufficient and appropriate to the nature and gravity of the infringement;

(18) Whereas it is essential to lay down a Community procedure enabling the implementing provisions and amendments to the Annexes of this Regulation to be adopted within a suitable period; whereas a Committee must be set up to permit close and effective cooperation between the Member States and the Commission in this field;

(19) Whereas the multitude of biological and ecological aspects to be considered in the implementation of this Regulation requires the setting up of a Scientific Review Group, whose opinions will be forwarded by the Commission to the Committee and the management bodies of the Member States, to assist them in making their decisions,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Object

The object of this Regulation is to protect species of wild fauna and flora and to guarantee their conservation by regulating trade therein in accordance with the following Articles.

This Regulation shall apply in compliance with the objectives, principles and provisions of the Convention defined in Article 2.

Article 2

Definitions

For the purposes of this Regulation:

(a) 'Committee` shall mean the Committee on Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora, established under Article 18;

(b) 'Convention` shall mean the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites);

(c) 'country of origin` shall mean the country in which a specimen was taken from the wild, captive-bred or artificially propagated;

(d) 'import notification` shall mean the notification given by the importer or his agent or representative, at the time of the introduction into the Community of a specimen of a species included in Annexes C or D, on a form prescribed by the Commission in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 18;

(e) 'introduction from the sea` shall mean the introduction into the Community of any specimen which was taken in, and is being introduced directly from, the marine environment not under the jurisdiction of any State, including the air-space above the sea and the sea-bed and subsoil beneath the sea;

(f) 'issuance` shall mean the completion of all procedures involved in preparing and validating a permit or certificate and its delivery to the applicant;

(g) 'management authority` shall mean a national administrative authority designated, in the case of a Member State, in accordance with Article 13(1)(a) or, in the case of a third country party to the Convention, in accordance with Article IX of the Convention;

(h) 'Member State of destination` shall mean the Member State of destination mentioned in the document used to export or re-export a specimen; in the event of introduction from the sea, it shall mean the Member State within whose jurisdiction the place of destination of a specimen lies;

(i) 'offering for sale` shall mean offering for sale and any action that may reasonably be construed as such, including advertising or causing to be advertised for sale and invitation to treat;

(j) 'personal or household effects` shall mean dead specimens, parts and derivatives thereof, that are the belongings of a private individual and that form, or are intended to form, part of his normal goods and chattels;

(k) 'place of destination` shall mean the place at which at the time of introduction into the Community, it is intended that specimens will normally be kept; in the case of live specimens, this shall be the first place where specimens are intended to be kept following any period of quarantine or other confinement for the purposes of sanitary checks and controls;

(l) 'population` shall mean a biologically or geographically distinct total number of individuals;

(m) 'primarily commercial purposes` shall mean all purposes the non-commercial aspects of which do not clearly predominate;

(n) 're-export from the Community` shall mean export from the Community of any specimen that has previously been introduced;

(o) 'reintroduction into the Community` shall mean introduction into the Community of any specimen that has previously been exported or re-exported;

(p) 'sale` shall mean any form of sale. For the purposes of this Regulation, hire, barter or exchange shall be regarded as sale; cognate expressions shall be similarly construed;

(q) 'scientific authority` shall mean a scientific authority designated, in the case of a Member State, in accordance with Article 13(1)(b) or, in the case of a third country party to the Convention, in accordance with Article IX of the Convention;

(r) 'Scientific Review Group` shall mean the consultative body established under Article 17;

(s) 'species` shall mean a species, subspecies or population thereof;

(t) 'specimen` shall mean any animal or plant, whether alive or dead, of the species listed in Annexes A to D, any part or derivative thereof, whether or not contained in other goods, as well as any other goods which appear from an accompanying document, the packaging or a mark or label, or from any other circumstances, to be or to contain parts or derivatives of animals or plants of those species, unless such parts or derivatives are specifically exempted from the provisions of this Regulation or from the provisions relating to the Annex in which the species concerned is listed by means of an indication to that effect in the Annexes concerned.

A specimen will be considered to be a specimen of a species listed in Annexes A to D if it is, or is part of or derived from, an animal or plant at least one of whose 'parents` is of a species so listed. In cases where the 'parents` of such an animal or plant are of species listed in different Annexes, or of species only one of which is listed, the provisions of the more restrictive Annex shall apply. However, in the case of specimens of hybrid plants, if one of the 'parents` is of a species listed in Annex A, the provisions of the more restrictive Annex shall apply only if that species is annotated to that effect in the Annex;

(u) 'trade` shall mean the introduction into the Community, including introduction from the sea, and the export and re-export therefrom, as well as the use, movement and transfer of possession within the Community, including within a Member State, of specimens subject to the provisions of this Regulation;

(v) 'transit` shall mean the transport of specimens between two points outside the Community through the territory of the Community which are shipped to a named consignee and during which any interruption in the movement arises only from the arrangements necessitated by this form of traffic;

(w) 'worked specimens that were acquired more than 50 years previously` shall mean specimens that were significantly altered from their natural raw state for jewellery, adornment, art, utility, or musical instruments, more than 50 years before the entry into force of this Regulation and that have been, to the satisfaction of the management authority of the Member State concerned, acquired in such conditions. Such specimens shall be considered as worked only if they are clearly in one of the aforementioned categories and require no further carving, crafting or manufacture to effect their purpose;

(x) 'checks at the time of introduction, export, re-export and transit` shall mean documentary checks on the certificates, permits and notifications provided for in this Regulation and - in cases where Community provisions so provide or in other cases by representative sampling of the consignments - examination of the specimens, where appropriate accompanied by the taking of samples with a view to analysis or more detailed checks.

Article 3

Scope

1. Annex A shall contain:

(a) the species listed in Appendix I to the Convention for which the Member States have not entered a reservation;

(b) any species:

(i) which is, or may be, in demand for utilization in the Community or for international trade and which is either threatened with extinction or so rare that any level of trade would imperil the survival of the species;

or

(ii) which is in a genus of which most of the species or which is a species of which most of the subspecies are listed in Annex A in accordance with the criteria in subparagraphs (a) or (b)(i) and whose listing in the Annex is essential for the effective protection of those taxa.

2. Annex B shall contain:

(a) the species listed in Appendix II to the Convention, other than those listed in Annex A, for which the Member States have not entered a reservation;

(b) the species listed in Appendix I to the Convention for which a reservation has been entered;

(c) any other species not listed in Appendices I or II to the Convention:

(i) which is subject to levels of international trade that might not be compatible:

- with its survival or with the survival of populations in certain countries, or

- with the maintenance of the total population at a level consistent with the role of the species in the ecosystems in which it occurs:

or

(ii) whose listing in the Annex for reasons of similarity in appearance to other species listed in Annex A or Annex B, is essential in order to ensure the effectiveness of controls on trade in specimens of such species;

(d) species in relation to which it has been established that the introduction of live specimens into the natural habitat of the Community would constitute an ecological threat to wild species of fauna and flora indigenous to the Community.

3. Annex C shall contain:

(a) the species listed in Appendix III to the Convention, other than those listed in Annexes A or B, for which the Member States have not entered a reservation;

(b) the species listed in Appendix II to the Convention for which a reservation has been entered.

4. Annex D shall contain:

(a) species not listed in Annexes A to C which are imported into the Community in such numbers as to warrant monitoring;

(b) the species listed in Appendix III to the Convention for which a reservation has been entered.

5. Where the conservation status of species covered by this Regulation warrants their inclusion in one of the Appendices to the Convention, the Member States shall contribute to the necessary amendments.

Article 4

Introduction into the Community

1. The introduction into the Community of specimens of the species listed in Annex A shall be subject to completion of the necessary checks and the prior presentation, at the border customs office at the point of introduction, of an import permit issued by a management authority of the Member State of destination.

The import permit may be issued only in accordance with the restrictions established pursuant to paragraph 6 and when the following conditions have been met:

(a) the competent scientific authority, after considering any opinion by the Scientific Review Group, has advised that the introduction into the Community:

(i) would not have a harmful effect on the conservation status of the species or on the extent of the territory occupied by the relevant population of the species;

(ii) is taking place:

- for one of the purposes referred to in Article 8(3)(e), (f) and (g), or

- for other purposes which are not detrimental to the survival of the species concerned;

(b) (i) the applicant provides documentary evidence that the specimens have been obtained in accordance with the legislation on the protection of the species concerned which, in the case of import from a third country of specimens of a species listed in the Appendices to the Convention, shall be an export permit or re-export certificate, or copy thereof, issued in accordance with the Convention by a competent authority of the country of export or re-export;

(ii) however, the issuance of import permits for species listed in Annex A in accordance with Article 3(1)(a) shall not require such documentary evidence, but the original of any such import permit shall be withheld from the applicant pending presentation of the export permit or re-export certificate;

(c) the competent scientific authority is satisfied that the intended accommodation for a live specimen at the place of destination is adequately equipped to conserve and care for it properly;

(d) the management authority is satisfied that the specimen is not to be used for primarily commercial purposes;

(e) the management authority is satisfied, following consultation with the competent scientific authority, that there are no other factors relating to the conservation of the species which militate against issuance of the import permit; and

(f) in the case of introduction from the sea, the management authority is satisfied that any live specimen will be so prepared and shipped as to minimize the risk of injury, damage to health or cruel treatment.

2. The introduction into the Community of specimens of the species listed in Annex B shall be subject to completion of the necessary checks and the prior presentation, at the border customs office at the point of introduction, of an import permit issued by a management authority of the Member State of destination.

The import permit may be issued only in accordance with the restrictions established pursuant to paragraph 6 and when:

(a) the competent scientific authority, after examining available data and considering any opinion from the Scientific Review Group, is of the opinion that the introduction into the Community would not have a harmful effect on the conservation status of the species or on the extent of the territory occupied by the relevant population of the species, taking account of the current or anticipated level of trade. This opinion shall be valid for subsequent imports as long as the abovementioned aspects have not changed significantly;

(b) the applicant provides documentary evidence that the intended accommodation for a live specimen at the place of destination is adequately equipped to conserve and care for it properly;

(c) the conditions referred to in paragraph 1(b)(i), (e) and (f) have been met.

3. The introduction into the Community of specimens of the species listed in Annex C shall be subject to completion of the necessary checks and the prior presentation, at the border customs office at the point of introduction, of an import notification and:

(a) in the case of export from a country mentioned in relation to the species concerned in Annex C, the applicant shall provide documentary evidence, by means of an export permit issued in accordance with the Convention by an authority of that country competent for the purpose, that the specimens have been obtained in accordance with the national legislation on the conservation of the species concerned; or

(b) in the case of export from a country not mentioned in relation to the species concerned in Annex C or re-export from any country, the applicant shall present an export permit, a re-export certificate or a certificate of origin issued in accordance with the Convention by an authority of the exporting or re-exporting country competent for the purpose.

4. The introduction into the Community of specimens of the species listed in Annex D shall be subject to completion of the necessary checks and the prior presentation of an import notification at the border customs office at the point of introduction.

5. The conditions for the issuance of an import permit as referred to in paragraph 1(a) and (d) and in paragraph 2(a), (b) and (c) shall not apply to specimens for which the applicant provides documentary evidence:

(a) that they had previously been legally introduced into or acquired in the Community and that they are, modified or not, being reintroduced into the Community; or

(b) that they are worked specimens that were acquired more than 50 years previously.

6. In consultation with the countries of origin concerned, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 18 and taking account of any opinion from the Scientific Review Group, the Commission may establish general restrictions, or restrictions relating to certain countries of origin, on the introduction into the Community:

(a) on the basis of the conditions referred to in paragraph 1(a)(i) or (e), of specimens of species listed in Annex A;

(b) on the basis of the conditions referred to in paragraph 1(e) or paragraph 2(a), of specimens of species listed in Annex B; and

(c) of live specimens of species listed in Annex B which have a high mortality rate during shipment or for which it has been established that they are unlikely to survive in captivity for a considerable proportion of their potential life span; or

(d) of live specimens of species for which it has been established that their introduction into the natural environment of the Community presents an ecological threat to wild species of fauna and flora indigenous to the Community.

The Commission shall on a quarterly basis publish a list of such restrictions, if any, in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

7. Where special cases of transhipment, air transfer or rail transport occur following introduction into the Community, derogations from completion of the checks and presentations of import documents at the border customs office at the point of introduction which are referred to in paragraphs 1 to 4 shall be granted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 18, in order to permit such checks and presentations to be made at another customs office designated in accordance with Article 12 (1).

Article 5

Export or re-export from the Community

1. The export or re-export from the Community of specimens of the species listed in Annex A shall be subject to completion of the necessary checks and the prior presentation, at the customs office at which the export formalities are completed, of an export permit or re-export certificate issued by a management authority of the Member State in which the specimens are located.

2. An export permit for specimens of the species listed in Annex A may be issued only when the following conditions have been met:

(a) the competent scientific authority has advised in writing that the capture or collection of the specimens in the wild or their export will not have a harmful effect on the conservation status of the species or on the extent of the territory occupied by the relevant population of the species;

(b) the applicant provides documentary evidence that the specimens have been obtained in accordance with the legislation in force on the protection of the species in question; where the application is made to a Member State other than the Member State of origin, such documentary evidence shall be furnished by means of a certificate stating that the specimen was taken from the wild in accordance with the legislation in force on its territory;

(c) the management authority is satisfied that:

(i) any live specimen will be so prepared and shipped as to minimize the risk of injury, damage to health or cruel treatment; and

(ii) - the specimens of species not listed in Annex I to the Convention will not be used for primarily commercial purposes, or

- in the case of export to a State party to the Convention of specimens of the species referred to in Article 3(1)(a) of this Regulation, an import permit has been issued;

and

(d) the management authority of the Member State is satisfied, following consultation with the competent scientific authority, that there are no other factors relating to the conservation of the species which militate against issuance of the export permit.

3. A re-export certificate may be issued only when the conditions referred to in paragraph 2 (c) and (d) have been met and when the applicant provides documentary evidence that the specimens:

(a) were introduced into the Community in accordance with the provisions of this Regulation;

(b) if introduced into the Community before the entry into force of this Regulation, were introduced in accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EEC) No 3626/82; or

(c) if introduced into the Community before 1984, entered international trade in accordance with the provisions of the Convention; or

(d) were legally introduced into the territory of a Member State before the provisions of the Regulations referred to in (a) and (b) or of the Convention became applicable to them, or became applicable in that Member State.

4. The export or re-export from the Community of specimens of the species listed in Annexes B and C shall be subject to completion of the necessary checks and the prior presentation, at the customs office at which the export formalities are completed, of an export permit or re-export certificate issued by a management authority of the Member State in whose territory the specimens are located.

An export permit may be issued only when the conditions referred to in paragraph 2 (a), (b), (c) (i) and (d) have been met.

A re-export certificate may be issued only when the conditions referred to in paragraph 2 (c) (i) and (d) and in paragraph 3 (a) to (d) have been met.

5. Where an application for a re-export certificate concerns specimens introduced into the Community under an import permit issued by another Member State, the management authority must first consult the management authority which issued the permit. The consultation procedures and the cases in which consultation is necessary shall be established in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 18.

6. The conditions for the issuance of an export permit or re-export certificate as referred to in paragraph 2 (a) and (c) (ii) shall not apply to:

(i) worked specimens that were acquired more than 50 years previously; or

(ii) dead specimens and parts and derivatives thereof for which the applicant provides documentary evidence that they were legally acquired before the provisions of this Regulation, or of Regulation (EEC) No 3626/82 or of the Convention became applicable to them.

7. (a) The competent scientific authority in each Member State shall monitor the issuance of export permits by that Member State for specimens of species listed in Annex B and actual exports of such specimens. Whenever such scientific authority determines that the export of specimens of any such species should be limited in order to maintain that species throughout its range at a level consistent with its role in the ecosystem in which it occurs, and well above the level at which that species might become eligible for inclusion in Annex A in accordance with Article 3 (1) (a) or (b) (i), the scientific authority shall advise the competent management authority, in writing, of suitable measures to be taken to limit the issuance of export permits for specimens of that species.

(b) Whenever a management authority is advised of the measures referred to in (a), it shall inform and send comments to the Commission which shall, if appropriate, recommend restrictions on exports of the species concerned in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 18.

Article 6

Rejection of applications for permits and certificates referred to in Articles 4, 5 and 10

1. When a Member State rejects an application for a permit or certificate in a case of significance in respect of the objectives of this Regulation, it shall immediately inform the Commission of the rejection and of the reasons for rejection.

2. The Commission shall communicate information received in accordance with paragraph 1 to the other Member States in order to ensure uniform application of this Regulation.

3. When an application is made for a permit or certificate relating to specimens for which such an application has previously been rejected, the applicant must inform the competent authority to which the application is submitted of the previous rejection.

4. (a) Member States shall recognize the rejection of applications by the competent authorities of the other Member States, where such rejection is based on the provisions of this Regulation.

(b) However, this need not apply where the circumstances have significantly changed or where new evidence to support an application has become available. In such cases, if a management authority issues a permit or certificate, it shall inform the Commission thereof, stating the reasons for issuance.

Article 7

Derogations

1. Specimens born and bred in captivity or artificially propagated

(a) Save where Article 8 applies, specimens of species listed in Annex A that have been born and bred in captivity or artificially propagated shall be treated in accordance with the provisions applicable to specimens of species listed in Annex B.

(b) In the case of artificially propagated plants, the provisions of Articles 4 and 5 may be waived under special conditions laid down by the Commission, relating to:

(i) the use of phytosanitary certificates;

(ii) trade by registered commercial traders and by the scientific institutions referred to in paragraph 4 of this Article; and

(iii) trade in hybrids.

(c) The criteria for determining whether a specimen has been born and bred in captivity or artificially propagated and whether for commercial purposes, as well as the special conditions referred to in (b), shall be specified by the Commission in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 18.

2. Transit

(a) By way of derogation from Article 4, where a specimen is in transit through the Community, checks and presentation at the border customs office at the point of introduction of the prescribed permits, certificates and notifications shall not be required.

(b) In the case of species listed in the Annexes in accordance with Article 3 (1) and Article 3 (2) (a) and (b), the derogation referred to in (a) shall apply only where a valid export or re-export document provided for by the Convention, relating to the specimens that it accompanies and specifying the destination of the specimens, has been issued by the competent authorities of the exporting or re-exporting third country.

(c) If the document referred to in (b) has not been issued before export or re-export, the specimen must be seized and may, where applicable, be confiscated unless the document is submitted retrospectively in compliance with the conditions specified by the Commission in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 18.

3. Personal and household effects

By way of derogation from Articles 4 and 5, the provisions therein shall not apply to dead specimens, parts and derivatives of species listed in Annexes A to D which are personal or household effects being introduced into the Community, or exported or re-exported therefrom, in compliance with provisions that shall be specified by the Commission in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 18.

4. Scientific institutions

The documents referred to in Articles 4, 5, 8 and 9 shall not be required in the case of non-commercial loans, donations and exchanges between scientists and scientific institutions, registered by the management authorities of the States in which they are located, of herbarium specimens and other preserved, dried or embedded museum specimens, and of live plant material, bearing a label, the model for which has been determined in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 18 or a similar label issued or approved by a management authority of a third country.

Article 8

Provisions relating to the control of commercial activities

1. The purchase, offer to purchase, acquisition for commercial purposes, display to the public for commercial purposes, use for commercial gain and sale, keeping for sale, offering for sale or transporting for sale of specimens of the species listed in Annex A shall be prohibited.

2. Member States may prohibit the holding of specimens, in particular live animals of the species listed in Annex A.

3. Exemption from the prohibitions referred to in paragraph 1 may be granted by issuance of a certificate to that effect by a management authority of the Member State in which the specimens are located, on a case-by-case basis where the specimens:

(a) were acquired in, or were introduced into, the Community before the provisions relating to species listed in Appendix I to the Convention or in Annex C1 to Regulation (EEC) No 3626/82 or in Annex A became applicable to the specimens; or

(b) are worked specimens that were acquired more than 50 years previously; or

(c) were introduced into the Community in compliance with the provisions of this Regulation and are to be used for purposes which are not detrimental to the survival of the species concerned; or

(d) are captive-born and bred specimens of an animal species or artificially propagated specimens of a plant species or are parts or derivatives of such specimens; or

(e) are required under exceptional circumstances for the advancement of science or for essential biomedical purposes pursuant to Council Directive 86/609/EEC of 24 November 1986 on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States regarding the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes (1) where the species in question proves to be the only one suitable for those purposes and where there are no specimens of the species which have been born and bred in captivity; or

(f) are intended for breeding or propagation purposes from which conservation benefits will accrue to the species concerned; or

(g) are intended for research or education aimed at the preservation or conservation of the species; or

(h) originate in a Member State and were taken from the wild in accordance with the legislation in force in that Member State.

4. General derogations from the prohibitions referred to in paragraph 1 based on the conditions referred to in paragraph 3, as well as general derogations with regard to species listed in Annex A in accordance with Article 3 (1) (b) (ii) may be defined by the Commission in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 18.

5. The prohibitions referred to in paragraph 1 shall also apply to specimens of the species listed in Annex B except where it can be proved to the satisfaction of the competent authority of the Member State concerned that such specimens were acquired and, if they originated outside the Community, were introduced into it, in accordance with the legislation in force for the conservation of wild fauna and flora.

6. The competent authorities of the Member States shall have discretion to sell any specimen of the species listed in Annexes B to D they have confiscated under this Regulation, provided that it is not thus returned directly to the person or entity from whom it was confiscated or who was party to the offence. Such specimens may then be treated for all purposes as if they had been legally acquired.

Article 9

Movement of live specimens

1. Any movement within the Community of a live specimen of a species listed in Annex A from the location indicated in the import permit or in any certificate issued in compliance with this Regulation shall require prior authorization from a management authority of the Member State in which the specimen is located. In other cases of movement, the person responsible for moving the specimen must be able, where applicable, to provide proof of the legal origin of the specimen.

2. Such authorization shall:

(a) be granted only when the competent scientific authority of such Member State or, where the movement is to another Member State, the competent scientific authority of the latter, is satisfied that the intended accommodation for a live specimen at the place of destination is adequately equipped to conserve and care for it properly;

(b) be confirmed by issuance of a certificate; and

(c) where applicable, be immediately communicated to a management authority of the Member State in which the specimen is to be located.

3. However, no such authorization shall be required if a live animal must be moved for the purpose of urgent veterinary treatment and is returned directly to its authorized location.

4. Where a live specimen of a species listed in Annex B is moved within the Community, the holder of the specimen may relinquish it only after ensuring that the intended recipient is adequately informed of the accommodation, equipment and practices required to ensure the specimen will be properly cared for.

5. When any live specimens are transported into, from or within the Community or are held during any period of transit or transhipment, they shall be prepared, moved and cared for in a manner such as to minimize the risk of injury, damage to health or cruel treatment and, in the case of animals, in conformity with Community legislation on the protection of animals during transport.

6. Under the procedure laid down in Article 18, the Commission may establish restrictions on the holding or movement of live specimens of species in relation to which restrictions on introduction into the Community have been established in accordance with Article 4 (6).

Article 10

Certificates to be issued

On receiving an application, together with all the requisite supporting documents, from the person concerned and provided that all the conditions governing their issuance have been fulfilled, a management authority of a Member State may issue a certificate for the purposes referred to in Article 5 (2) (b), 5 (3) and (4), Article 8 (3) and Article 9 (2) (b).

Article 11

Validity of and special conditions for permits and certificates

1. Without prejudice to stricter measures which the Member States may adopt or maintain, permits and certificates issued by the competent authorities of the Member States in accordance with this Regulation shall be valid throughout the Community.

2. (a) However, any such permit or certificate, as well as any permit or certificate issued on the basis of it, shall be deemed void if a competent authority or the Commission, in consultation with the competent authority which issued the permit or certificate, establishes that it was issued on the false premise that the conditions for its issuance were met.

(b) Specimens situated in the territory of a Member State and covered by such documents shall be seized by the competent authorities of that Member State and may be confiscated.

3. Any permit or certificate issued in accordance with this Regulation may stipulate conditions and requirements imposed by the issuing authority to ensure compliance with the provisions thereof.

4. Any import permit issued on the basis of a copy of the corresponding export permit or re-export certificate shall be valid for the introduction of specimens into the Community only when accompanied by the original of the valid export permit or re-export certificate.

5. The Commission shall establish time limits for the issuance of permits and certificates in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 18.

Article 12

Places of introduction and export

1. Member States shall designate customs offices for carrying out the checks and formalities for the introduction into and export from the Community, in order to assign to them a customs-approved treatment or use, within the meaning of Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92, of specimens of species covered by this Regulation and shall state which offices are specifically intended to deal with live specimens.

2. All offices designated in accordance with paragraph 1 shall be provided with sufficient and adequately trained staff. Member States shall ensure that accommodation is provided in accordance with relevant Community legislation as regards the transport and accommodation of live animals and that, where necessary, adequate steps are taken for live plants.

3. All offices designated in accordance with paragraph 1 shall be notified to the Commission which shall publish a list of them in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

4. In exceptional cases and in accordance with criteria defined under the procedure laid down in Article 18, a management authority may authorize the introduction into the Community or the export or re-export therefrom at a customs office other than one designated in accordance with paragraph 1.

5. Member States shall ensure that at border crossing-points the public are informed of the implementing provisions of this Regulation.

Article 13

Management and scientific authorities and other competent authorities

1. (a) Each Member State shall designate a management authority with primary responsibility for implementation of this Regulation and for communication with the Commission.

(b) Each Member State may also designate additional management authorities and other competent authorities to assist in implementation, in which case the primary management authority shall be responsible for providing the additional authorities with all the information required for correct application of this Regulation.

2. Each Member State shall designate one or more scientific authorities with appropriate qualifications whose duties shall be separate from those of any designated management authority.

3. (a) Not later than three months before the date of application of this Regulation, Member States shall forward the names and addresses of the designated management authorities, other authorities competent to issue permits or certificates and scientific authorities to the Commission, which shall publish this information in the Official Journal of the European Communities within a month.

(b) Each management authority referred to in paragraph 1 (a) shall, if so requested by the Commission, communicate to it within two months the names and specimen signatures of people authorized to sign permits or certificates, and impressions of the stamps, seals or other devices used to authenticate permits or certificates.

(c) Member States shall communicate to the Commission any changes in the information already provided, not later than two months after the implementation of such change.

Article 14

Monitoring of compliance and investigation of infringements

1. (a) The competent authorities of the Member States shall monitor compliance with the provisions of this Regulation.

(b) If, at any time, the competent authorities have reason to believe that these provisions are being infringed, they shall take the appropriate steps to ensure compliance or to instigate legal action.

(c) Member States shall inform the Commission and, in the case of species listed in the Appendices to the Convention, the Convention Secretariat of any steps taken by the competent authorities in relation to significant infringements of this Regulation, including seizures and confiscations.

2. The Commission shall draw the attention of the competent authorities of the Member States to matters whose investigation it considers necessary under this Regulation. Member States shall inform the Commission and, in the case of species listed in the Appendices to the Convention, the Convention Secretariat of the outcome of any subsequent investigation.

Article 15

Communication of information

1. The Member States and the Commission shall communicate to one another the information necessary for implementing this Regulation.

The Member States and the Commission shall ensure that the necessary steps are taken to make the public aware and inform it of the provisions regarding implementation of the Convention and of this Regulation and of the latter's implementing measures.

2. The Commission shall communicate with the Convention Secretariat so as to ensure that the Convention is effectively implemented throughout the territory to which this Regulation applies.

3. The Commission shall immediately communicate any advice from the Scientific Review Group to the management authorities of the Member States concerned.

4. (a) The management authorities of the Member States shall communicate to the Commission before 15 June each year all the information relating to the preceding year required for drawing up the reports referred to in Article VIII.7 of the Convention and equivalent information on international trade in all specimens of species listed in Annexes A, B and C and on introduction into the Community of specimens of species listed in Annex D. The information to be communicated and the format for its presentation shall be specified by the Commission in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 18.

(b) On the basis of the information referred to in (a), the Commission shall publish before 31 October each year a statistical report on the introduction into, and the export and re-export from, the Community of specimens of the species to which this Regulation applies and shall forward to the Convention Secretariat information on the species to which the Convention applies.

5. With a view to the preparation of amendments to the Annexes, the competent authorities of the Member States shall forward all relevant information to the Commission. The Commission shall specify the information required, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 18.

6. In accordance with Council Directive 90/313/EEC of 7 June 1990 on the freedom of access to information on the environment (1), the Commission shall take appropriate measures to protect the confidentiality of information obtained in implementation of this Regulation.

Article 16

Sanctions

1. Member States shall take appropriate measures to ensure the imposition of sanctions for at least the following infringement of this Regulation:

(a) introduction into, or export or re-export from, the Community of specimens without the appropriate permit or certificate or with a false, falsified or invalid permit or certificate or one altered without authorization by the issuing authority;

(b) failure to comply with the stipulations specified on a permit or certificate issued in accordance with this Regulation;

(c) making a false declaration or knowingly providing false information in order to obtain a permit or certificate;

(d) using a false, falsified or invalid permit or certificate or one altered without authorization as a basis for obtaining a Community permit or certificate or for any other official purpose in connection with this Regulation;

(e) making no import notification or a false import notification;

(f) shipment of live specimens not properly prepared so as to minimize the risk of injury, damage to health or cruel treatment;

(g) use of specimens of species listed in Annex A other than in accordance with the authorization given at the time of issuance of the import permit or subsequently;

(h) trade in artificially propagated plants contrary to the provisions laid down in accordance with Article 7(1)(b);

(i) shipment of specimens into or out of or in transit through the territory of the Community without the appropriate permit or certificate issued in accordance with this Regulation and, in the case of export or re-export from a third country party to the Convention, in accordance therewith, or without satisfactory proof of the existence of such permit or certificate;

(j) purchase, offer to purchase, acquisition for commercial purposes, use for commercial gain, display to the public for commercial purposes, sale, keeping for sale, offering for sale or transporting for sale of specimens in contravention of Article 8;

(k) use of a permit or certificate for any specimen other than one for which it was issued;

(l) falsification or alteration of any permit or certificate issued in accordance with this Regualation;

(m) failure to disclose rejection of an application for a Community import, export or re-export permit or certificate, in accordance with Article 6 (3).

2. The measures referred to in paragraph 1 shall be appropriate to the nature and gravity of the infringement and shall include provisions relating to the seizure and, where appropriate, confiscation of specimens.

3. Where a specimen is confiscated, it shall be entrusted to a competent authority of the Member State of confiscation which:

(a) following consultation with a scientific authority of that Member State, shall place or otherwise dispose of the specimen under conditions which it deems to be appropriate and consistent with the purposes and provisions of the Convention and this Regulation; and

(b) in the case of a live specimen which has been introduced into the Community, may, after consultation with the State of export, return the specimen to that State at the expense of the convicted person.

4. Where a live specimen of a species listed in Annex B or C arrives at a point of introduction into the Community without the appropriate valid permit or certificate, the specimen must be seized and may be confiscated or, if the consignee refuses to acknowledge the specimen, the competent authorities of the Member State responsible for the point of introduction may, if appropriate, refuse to accept the shipment and require the carrier to return the specimen to its place of departure.

Article 17

The Scientific Review Group

1. A Scientific Review Group is hereby established, consisting of the representatives of each Member State's scientific authority or authorities and chaired by the representative of the Commission.

2. (a) The Scientific Review Group shall examine any scientific question relating to the application of this Regulation - in particular concerning Article 4 (1) (a), (2) (a) and (6) - raised by the chairman, either on his own initiative or at the request of the members of the Group or the Committee.

(b) The Commission shall convey the opinions of the Scientific Review Group to the Committee.

Article 18

The Committee

1. The Commission shall be assisted by a Committee composed of the representatives of the Member States and chaired by the representative of the Commission.

The representative of the Commission shall submit to the Committee a draft of the measures to be taken. The Committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft within a time limit which the chairman may lay down according to the urgency of the matter. The opinion shall be delivered by the majority laid down in Article 148 (2) of the Treaty in the case of decisions which the Council is required to adopt on a proposal from the Commission. The votes of the representatives of the Member States within the Committee shall be weighted in the manner set out in that Article. The chairman shall not vote.

The Commission shall adopt the measures envisaged if they are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee.

If the measures envisaged are not in accordance with the opinion of the Committee, or if no opinion is delivered, the Commission shall without delay submit to the Council a proposal relating to the measures to be taken. The Council shall act by a qualified majority.

2. As regards the Committee's tasks referred to in points 1 and 2 of Article 19, if, on the expiry of a period of three months from the date of referral to the Council, the Council has not acted, the proposed measures shall be adopted by the Commission.

3. As regards the Committee's tasks referred to in points 3 and 4 of Article 19, if, on the expiry of a period of three months from the date of referral to the Council, the Council has not acted, the proposed measures shall be adopted by the Commission, save where the Council has decided against the said measures by a simple majority.

Article 19

In accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 18, the Commission shall:

1. lay down uniform conditions and criteria for:

(i) the issue, validity and use of the documents referred to in Articles 4, 5, 7 (4) and 10; it shall determine the design thereof;

(ii) the use of phytosanitary certificates; and

(iii) the establishment of procedures, where necessary, for marking specimens in order to facilitate identification and ensure enforcement of the provisions;

2. adopt the measures referred to in Article 4 (6) and (7), Article 5 (5) and (7) (b), Article 7 (1) (c), (2) (c) and (3), Article 8 (4), Article 9 (6), Article 11 (5), Article 15 (4) (a) and (5) and Article 21 (3);

3. amend Annexes A to D except in the case of amendments to Annex A which do not result from decisions of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention;

4. adopt, where necessary, additional measures to implement resolutions of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, decisions or recommendations of the Standing Committee of the Convention and recommendations of the Convention Secretariat.

Article 20

Final provisions

Each Member State shall notify the Commission and the Convention Secretariat of the provisions which it adopts specifically for the implementation of this Regulation and of all legal instruments used and measures taken for its implementation and enforcement.

The Commission shall communicate this information to the other Member States.

Article 21

1. Regulation (EEC) No 3626/82 is hereby repealed.

2. Until the measures provided for in points 1 and 2 of Article 19 have been adopted, Member States may maintain or continue to apply the measures adopted in accordance with Regulation (EEC) No 3626/82 and Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3418/83 of 28 November 1983 laying down provisions for the uniform issue and use of the documents required for the implementation in the Community of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (1).

3. Before this Regulation is implemented the Commission, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 18 and in consultation with the Scientific Review Group, must check that there is no justification for restrictions on the introduction into the Community of the species listed in Annex C1 to Regulation (EEC) No 3626/82 which are not included in Annex A to this Regulation.

Article 22

This Regulation shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

It shall apply from 1 January 1997.

Articles 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 21(3) shall apply from the date of entry into force of this Regulation.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, . . .

For the Council

The President

(1) OJ No C 26, 3. 2. 1992, p. 1, and OJ No C 131, 12. 5. 1994, p. 1.

(2) OJ No C 223, 31. 8. 1992, p. 19.

(3) Opinion of the European Parliament of 15 December 1995 (OJ No C 17, 22. 1. 1996, p. 430). Common position of the Council of . . . (not yet published in the Official Journal) and Decision of the European Parliament of . . . (not yet published in the Official Journal).

(4) OJ No L 384, 31. 12. 1982, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 558/95 (OJ No L 57, 15. 3. 1995, p. 1).

(1) OJ No L 302, 19. 10. 1992, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by the 1994 Act of Accession.

(1) OJ No L 358, 18. 12. 1986, p. 1.

(1) OJ No L 158, 23. 6. 1990, p. 56.

(1) OJ No L 344, 7. 12. 1983, p. 1.

ANNEX

Notes on interpretation of Annexes A, B, C and D

1. Species included in these Annexes A, B, C and D are referred to:

(a) by the name of the species; or

(b) as being all of the species included in a higher taxon or designated part thereof.

2. The abbreviation 'spp.` is used to denote all species of a higher taxon.

3. Other references to taxa higher than species are for the purposes of information or classification only.

4. Species printed in bold in Annex A are listed there in consistency with their protection as provided for by Directive 79/409/EEC (1) ('Birds Directive`) or Directive 92/43/EEC (2) ('Habitats Directive`).

5. The abbreviation 'p.e.` is used to denote species that are possibly extinct.

6. An asterisk '*` placed against the name of a species or higher taxon indicated that one or more geographically separate populations, sub-species or species of that species or taxon are included in Annex A and are excluded from Annex B.

7. Two asterisks '**` placed against the name of a species or higher taxon indicate that one or more geographically separate populations, sub-species or species of that species or taxon are included in Annex B and are excluded from Annex A.

8. The symbols '(I)`, '(II)` and '(III)` and the symbol '×` followed by a number placed against the name of a species or higher taxon refer to the Appendices of the Convention in which the species concerned are listed, as indicated in notes 9 to 12. Where none of these annotations appears, the species concerned are not listed in the Appendices to the Convention.

9. (I) against the name of a species or higher taxon indicates that the species or higher taxon concerned is included in Appendix I to the Convention.

10. (II) against the name of a species or higher taxon indicates that the species or higher taxon concerned is included in Appendix II to the Convention.

11. (III) against the name of a species or higher taxon indicates that it is included in Appendix III to the Convention. In this case the country with respect to which the species or higher taxon is included in Appendix III is also indicated by a two-letter code as follows: BW (Botswana), CA (Canada), CO (Colombia), CR (Costa Rica), GH (Ghana), GT (Guatemala), HN (Honduras), IN (India), MY (Malaysia), MU (Mauritius), NP (Nepal), TN (Tunisia) and UY (Uruguay).

12. The symbol '×` followed by a number placed against the name of a species or higher taxon in Annex A or B denotes that certain geographically separate populations, species, groups of species or families of that species or taxon are listed in Appendix I, II or III to the Convention, as follows:

×701 The species is listed in Appendix II but-species Cercocebus galeritus galeritus is listed in Appendix I.

×702 The species is listed in Appendix II but the subspecies kirkii (also referenced as Colobus bodius kirkii) is listed in Appendix I.

×703 All species are listed in Appendix II except Lipotes vexillifer, Platanista spp., Bernardius spp., Hyperoodon spp., Physeter catodon (includes synonym Physeter macrocephalus), Sotalia spp., Sousa spp., Neophocaena phocaenoides, Phocoena sinus, Eschrichtius robustus (includes synonym Eschrichtius glaucus), Balaenoptera spp. (except population of West Greenland of Balaenoptera acutorostrata), Megaptera novaeangliae, Eubalaena spp. (formerly included in genus Balaena) and Caperea marginata which are listed in Appendix I. Specimens of the species listed in Appendix II to the Convention, including products and derivatives other than meat products for commercial purposes, taken by the people of Greenland under licence granted by the competent authority concerned, shall be treated as belonging to Annex B.

×704 Populations of Bhutan, China, Mexico and Mongolia and isabellinus listed in Appendix I, other populations and subspecies listed in Appendix II.

×705 The species is listed in Appendix I except the population of Australia which is listed in Appendix II.

×706 Trichechus inunquis and Trichechus manatus are listed in Appendix I. Trichechus senegalensis is listed in Appendix II.

×707 The species is listed in Appendix II but sub-species Equus hemionus hemionus is listed in Appendix I.

×708 Haliaetus albicilla and H. leucocephalus are listed in Appendix I, the other species in Appendix II.

×709 The following species are listed in Appendix III: Crax daubentoni and Crax globulosa for Colombia and Crax rubra for Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Honduras.

×710 Pauxi pauxi is listed in Appendix III for Colombia.

×711 The species is listed in Appendix II but sub-species Grus canadensis nesiotes and Grus canadensis pulla are listed in Appendix I.

×712 Mantella aurantiaca is listed in Appendix II.

13. The symbol ' ` followed by a number placed against the name of a species or higher taxon denotes the designated geograhically separate populations, species, groups of species or families of that species or taxon are excluded from the appendix concerned, as follows:

101 Populations of Spain north of the Duero, Greek populations north of the 39th parallel and populations of Bhutan, India, Nepal and Pakistan

102 Population of the USA

103 - Chile: part of the population of Parinacota, the Region of Tarapacá

- Peru: the whole population

104 Populations of Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan

105 Cathartidae

106 Melopsittacus undulatus, Nymphicus hollandicus and Psittacula krameri

107 Population of Ecuador, subject to zero export quotas in 1995 and 1996 and then annual export quotas approved by the Cites Secretariat and the IUCN/SSC Crocodile Specialist Group

108 Populations of Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe and populations of the following countries subject to the specified annual export quotas:

>TABLE>

Apart from ranched specimens, the United Republic of Tanzania will authorize the export of no more than 1 100 wild specimens (including 100 hunting trophies) in 1995 and 1996, and a number to be approved by the Cites Secretariat and the IUCN/SSC Crocodile Specialist Group in 1997.

109 Populations of Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea

110 Population of Chile

111 All species that are not succulent

112 Aloe vera; also referenced as Aloe barbadensis.

14. The symbol '+` followed by a number placed against the name of a species or higher taxon denotes that only designated geographically separate populations, sub-species or species of that species or taxon are included in the appendix concerned, as follows:

+201 Populations of Spain north of the Duero, Greek populations north of the 39th parallel and populations of Bhutan, India, Nepal and Pakistan

+202 Population of Cameroon and Nigeria

+203 Population of Asia

+204 Population of Central and North America

+205 Populations of Bangladesh, India and Thailand

+206 Population of India

+207 - Chile: part of the population of Parinacota, the Region of Tarapacá

- Peru: the whole population

+208 Populations of Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan

+209 Populations of Mexico

+210 Populations of Algeria, Burkino Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Sudan

+211 Population of the Seychelles

+212 Population of Europe, except the area which formerly constituted the USSR

+213 All species of New Zealand

+214 Population of Chile.

15. The symbol '=` followed by a number placed against the name of a species or higher taxon denotes that the name of that species or taxon shall be interpreted as follows:

=301 Also referenced as Phalanger maculatus

=302 Also referenced as Vampyrops lineatus

=303 Includes family Tupaiidae

=304 Formerly included in family Lemuridae

=305 Formerly included as subspecies of Callithrix jacchus

=306 Includes generic synonym Leontideus

=307 Formerly included in species Saguinus oedipus

=308 Formerly included as Alouatta palliata (villosa)

=309 Includes synonym Cercopithecus roloway

=310 Formerly included in genus Papio

=311 Includes generic synonym Simias

=312 Includes synonym Colobus badius rufomitratus

=313 Includes generic synonym Rhinopithecus

=314 Also referenced as Presbytis entellus

=315 Also referenced as Presbytis geei and Semnopithecus geei

=316 Also referenced as Presbytis pileata and Semnopithecus pileatus

=317 Formerly included as Tamandua tetradactyla (in part)

=318 Includes synonyms Bradypus boliviensis and Bradypus griseus

=319 Includes synonym Cabassous gymnurus

=320 Includes synonym Priodontes giganteus

=321 Includes generic synonym Coendou

=322 Includes generic synonym Cuniculus

=323 Formerly included in genus Dusicyon

=324 Includes synonym Dusicyon fulvipes

=325 Includes generic synonym Fennecus

=326 Also referenced as Selenarctos thibetanus

=327 Formerly included as Nasua nasua

=328 Also referenced as Aonyx microdon of Paraonyx microdon

=329 Includes synonym Galictis allamandi

=330 Formerly included in genus Lutra

=331 Formerly included in genus Lutra; includes synonyms Lutra annectens, Lutra enudris, Lutra incarum and Lutra platensis

=332 Includes generic synonym Viverra

=333 Includes synonym Eupleres major

=334 Formerly included as Viverra megaspila

=335 Formerly included as Herpestes fuscus

=336 Formerly included as Herpestes auropunctatus

=337 Also referenced as Hyaena brunnea

=338 Also referenced as Felis caracal and Lynx caracal

=339 Formerly included in genus Felis

=340 Also referenced as Felis pardina or Felis lynx pardina

=341 Formerly included in genus Panthera

=342 Also referenced as Equus asinus

=343 Formerly included in species Equus hemionus

=344 Also referenced as Equus caballus przewalskii

=345 Also referenced as Choeropsis liberiensis

=346 Also referenced as Cervus porcinus annamiticus

=347 Also referenced as Cervus porcinus calamianensis

=348 Also referenced as Cervus porcinus kuhlii

=349 Also referenced as Cervus dama mesopotamicus

=350 Includes synonym Bos frontalis

=351 Includes synonym Bos grunniens

=352 Includes generic synonym Novibos

=353 Formerly included as Bubalus bubalis (domesticated form)

=354 Includes generic synonym Anoa

=355 Also referenced as Damaliscus dorcas dorcas

=356 Formerly included in species Naemorhedus goral

=357 Also referenced as Capricornis sumatraensis

=358 Includes synonym Oryx tao

=359 Includes synonym Ovis aries ophion

=360 Also referenced as Rupicapra rupicapra ornata

=361 Also referenced as Boocercus eurycerus; includes generic synonym Taurotragus

=362 Also referenced as Pterocnemia pennata

=363 Also referenced as Sula abbotti

=364 Also referenced as Ardeola ibis

=365 Also referenced as Egretta alba

=366 Also referenced as Ciconia ciconia boyciana

=367 Also referenced as Hagedashia hagedash

=368 Also referenced as Lampribis rara

=369 Includes synonyms Anas chlorotis and Anas nesiotis

=370 Also referenced as Spatula clypeata

=371 Also referenced as Anas platyrhynchos laysanensis

=372 Probably a hybrid between Anas platyrhynchos and Anas superciliosa

=373 Also referenced Nyroca nyroca

=374 Includes synonym Dendrocygna fulva

=375 Also referenced as Cairina hartlaubii

=376 Also referenced as Aquila heliaca adalberti

=377 Also referenced as Chondrohierax wilsonii

=378 Also referenced as Falco peregrinus babylonicus and Falco peregrinus pelegrinoides

=379 Also referenced as Crax mitu mitu

=380 Formerly included in genus Crax

=381 Formerly included in genus Aburria

=382 Formerly included as Arborophila brunneopectus (in part)

=383 Formerly included in species Crossoptilon crossoptilon

=384 Formerly included in species Polyplectron malacense

=385 Includes synonym Rheinardia nigrescens

=386 Also referenced as Tricholimnas sylvestris

=387 Also referenced as Choriotis nigriceps

=388 Also referenced as Houbaropsis bengalensis

=389 Also referenced as Turturoena iriditorques; formerly included as Columba malherbii (in part)

=390 Also referenced as Nesoenas mayeri

=391 Formerly included as Treron australis (in part)

=392 Also referenced as Calopelia brehmeri; includes synonym Calopelia puella

=393 Also referenced as Tympanistria tympanistria

=394 Also referenced as Amazona dufresniana rhodocorytha

=395 Often traded under the incorrect designation Ara caninde

=396 Also referenced as Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae cookii

=397 Also referenced as Opopsitta diophtalma coxeni

=398 Also referenced as Pezoporus occidentalis

=399 Formerly included in species Psephotus chrysopterygius

=400 Also referenced as Psittacula krameri echo

=401 Formerly included in genus Gallirex; also referenced as Tauraco porphyreolophus

=402 Also referenced as Otus gurneyi

=403 Also referenced as Ninox novaeseelandiae royana

=404 Formerly included in genus Glaucis

=405 Includes generic synonym Ptilolaemus

=406 Formerly included in genus Rhinoplax

=407 Also referenced as Pitta brachyura nympha

=408 Also referenced as Musicapa ruecki or Niltava ruecki

=409 Also referenced as Dasyornis brachypterus longirostris

=410 Also referenced as Tchitrea bourbonnensis

=411 Also referenced as Meliphaga cassidix

=412 Formerly included in genus Spinus

=413 Formerly included as Serinus gularis (in part)

=414 Also referenced as Estrilda subflava or Sporaeginthus subflavus

=415 Formerly included as Lagonosticta larvata (in part)

=416 Includes generic synonym Spermestes

=417 Also referenced as Euodice cantans; formerly included as Lonchura malabarica (in part)

=418 Also referenced as Hypargos nitidulus

=419 Formerly included as Parmoptila woodhousei (in part)

=420 Includes synonyms Pyrenestes frommi and Pyrenestes rothschildi

=421 Also referenced as Estrilda bengala

=422 Also referenced as Malimbus rubriceps or Anaplectes melanotis

=423 Also referenced as Coliuspasser ardens

=424 Formerly included as Euplectes orix (in part)

=425 Also referenced as Coliuspasser macrourus

=426 Also referenced as Ploceus superciliosus

=427 Includes synonym Ploceus nigriceps

=428 Also referenced as Sitagra luteola

=429 Also referenced as Sitagra melanocephala

=430 Formerly included as Ploceus velatus

=431 Also referenced as Hypochera chalybeata; includes synonyms Vidua amauropteryx, Vidua centralis, Vidua neumanni, Vidua okavangoensis and Vidua ultramarina

=432 Formerly included as Vidua paradisea (in part)

=433 Includes synonym Cuora criskarannarum

=434 Formerly included as Kachuga tecta tecta

=435 Includes generic synonyms Nicoria and Geoemyda (in part)

=436 Also referenced as Chrysemys scripta elegans

=437 Also referenced as Geochelone elephantopus; also referenced in genus Testudo

=438 Also referenced as in genus Testudo

=439 Also referenced as in genus Aspideretes

=440 Formerly included in Podocnemis spp.

=441 Also referenced as Pelusios subniger

=442 Includes Alligatoridae, Crocodylidae and Gavialidae

=443 Also referenced as Crocodylus mindorensis

=444 Formerly included in Chamaeleo spp.

=445 Also referenced as Constrictor constrictor occidentalis

=446 Includes synonym Python molurus pimbura

=447 Includes synonym Pseudoboa cloelia

=448 Also referenced as Hydrodynastes gigas

=449 Also referenced as Alsophis chamissonis

=450 Formerly included in genus Natrix

=451 Includes generic synonym Megalobatrachus

=452 Sensu D'Abrera

=453 Also referenced as Conchodromus dromas

=454 Also referenced in genera Dysnomia and Plagiola

=455 Includes generic synonym Proptera

=456 Also referenced in genus Carunculina

=457 Also referenced as Megalonaias nickliniana

=458 Also referenced as Cyrtonaias tampicoensis tecomatensis and Lampsilis tampicoensis tecomatensis

=459 Includes generic synonym Micromya

=460 Includes generic synonym Papuina

=461 Includes only the family Helioporidae with one species Heliopora coerulea

=462 Also referenced as Podophyllum emodi and Sinopodophyllum hexandrum

=463 Also referenced in genus Echinocactus

=464 Also referenced as Lobeira macdougallii or Nopalxochia macdougallii

=465 Also referenced as Echinocereus lindsayi

=466 Also referenced as Wilcoxia schmollii

=467 Also referenced in genus Coryphantha

=468 Also referenced as Solisia pectinata

=469 Also referenced as Backebergia militaris

=470 Also referenced in genus Toumeya

=471 Includes synonym Ancistrocactus tobuschii

=472 Also referenced in genus Neolloydia or in genus Echinomastus

=473 Also referenced in genus Toumeya or in genus Pediocactus

=474 Also referenced in genus Neolloydia

=475 Also referenced as Saussurea lappa

=476 Includes Euphorbia cylindrifolia ssp. tuberifera

=477 Also referenced as Euphorbia capsaintemariensis var. tulearensis

=478 Also referenced as Engelhardia pterocarpa

=479 Includes Aloe compressa var. rugosquamosa and Aloe compressa var. schistophila

=480 Includes Aloe haworthioides var. aurantiaca

=481 Includes Aloe laeta var. maniaensis

=482 Includes families Apostasiaceae and Cypripediaceae as subfamilies Apostasioideae and Cypripedioideae

=483 Also referenced as Sarracenia rubra alabamensis

=484 Also referenced as Sarracenia rubra jonesii

=485 Includes synonym Stangeria paradoxa

=486 Also referenced as Taxus baccata spp. wallichiana

=487 Includes synonym Welwitschia bainesii

=488 Includes synonym Vulpes vulpes leucopus.

16. The symbol '°`, followed by a number placed against the name of a species or higher taxon shall be interpreted as follows:

°501 Specimens of domesticated forms are not subject to the provisions of the Convention.

°502 Annual exports quotas for live specimens and hunting trophies are granted as follows:

Botswana: 5

Namibia: 150

Zimbabwe: 50

The trade in such specimens is subject to the provisions of Article III of the Convention

°503 For the exclusive purpose of allowing international trade in live animals to appropriate and acceptable destinations and hunting trophies.

°504 For the exclusive purpose of allowing international trade in wool sheared from live vicunas of the populations included in Appendix II (see +207), and the extant stock in Peru of 3 249 kg of wool, and in cloth and items made thereof. The reverse side of the cloth must bear the logotype by the range states of the species, which are signatories to the Convenio para la conservacion y manejo de la vicuna, and the selvages either the words Vicunandes - Chile or the words Vicunandes - Peru, depending on the country of origin.

°505 Fossils are not subject to Cites provisions.

°506 No exports of adult plants of Pachypodium brevicaule from Madagascar are permitted until the 10th meeting of the Conference of the Parties.

°507 Seedling or tissue cultures obtained in vitro, in solid or liquid media, transported in sterile containers are not subject to the provisions of the Regulation.

17. In accordance with Article 1 (b) (iii) of the Convention, the symbol '

` followed by a number placed against the name of a species or higher taxon included in Appendix II designates parts or derivatives which are specified in relation thereto for the purposes of the Convention as follows:

1 designates all parts and derivatives, except:

(a) seeds, spores and pollen (including pollinia); and

(b) seedling or tissue cultures obtained in vitro, in solid or liquid media, transported in sterile containers;

2 designates all parts and derivations, except:

(a) seeds and pollen;

(b) seedling or tissue cultures obtained in vitro, in solid or liquid media, transported in sterile containers, and

(c) chemical derivations;

3 designates roots and readily recognizable parts thereof;

4 designates all parts and derivatives, except:

(a) seeds and pollen;

(b) seedling or tissue cultures obtained in vitro, in solid or liquid media, transported in sterile containers;

(c) fruits and parts and derivatives thereof of naturalized or artificially propogated plants; and

(d) separate stem joints (pads) and parts and derivatives therefore of naturalized or artificially propagated plants of the genus Opuntia subgenus Opuntia spp.;

5 designates saw-logs, sawn wood and veneers;

6 designates logs, wood-chips and unprocessed broken material;

7 designates all parts and derivatives, except;

(a) seeds and pollen (including pollinia);

(b) seedling or tissue cultures obtained in vitro, in solid or liquid media, transported in sterile containers;

(c) cut flowers of artificially propagated plants; and

(d) fruits and parts and derivatives thereof of artificially propagated plants of the genus Vanilla.

8 designates all parts and derivatives, except;

(a) seeds and pollen;

(b) seedling or tissue cultures obtained in vitro, in solid or liquid media, transported in sterile containers; and

(c) finished pharmaceutical products.

18. As none of the species or higher taxa of Flora included in Appendix I is annotated to the effect that their hybrids shall be treated in accordance with the provisions of Article III of the Convention, this means that artificially propagated hybrids produced from one or more of these species or taxa may be traded with a certificate of artificial propagation, and that seeds and pollen (including pollinia), cut flowers, seedling tissue cultures obtained in vitro, in solid or liquid media, transported in sterile containers of these hybrids are not subject to the provisions of the Regulation.

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(1) OJ No L 103, 25. 4. 1979, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Directive 94/24/EC (OJ No L 164, 30. 6. 1994, p. 9).

(2) OJ No L 206, 22. 7. 1992, p. 7. Directive as last amended by the 1994 Act of Accession.

STATEMENT OF THE COUNCIL'S REASONS

I. INTRODUCTION

1. On 18 November 1991 the Commission submitted a proposal (1) for a Regulation based on Articles 100a and 113 laying down provisions with regard to possession of and trade in specimens of species of wild fauna and flora.

2. The European Parliament delivered its opinion on 24 June 1993 (2) on first reading. Following that opinion, the Commission forwarded an amended proposal (3) to the Council on 21 January 1994.

The Economic and Social Committee delivered its opinion on 26 May 1994 (4).

3. The European Parliament was consulted on the Council's view that the legal basis should be Article 130s (1) and not Articles 100a and 113 as originally proposed by the Commission and accepted this change of basis in its opinion of 15 December 1995 (5).

4. On 26 February 1996 the Council adopted its common position in accordance with Article 189c of the Treaty.

II. OBJECTIVE

The aim of the proposal for a Regulation is to replace Council Regulation (EEC) No 3626/82 - while preserving its structure - by a Regulation taking into account:

- developments in the context of the Washington Convention (Cites), as regard both species covered and decisions adopted by the Parties to it,

- the situation in Member States' national legislation in this area in the light of the operation of the internal market,

- the improvements which need to be made to Regulation (EEC) No 3626/82 to ensure that its provisions are applied more effectively and that species in which there is likely to be trade are given greater protection.

III. ANALYSIS OF THE COMMON POSITION

1. General comments

In drawing up its common position, the Council took account (see in particular the first three recitals) of the above objective, of the fact that the main purpose of the Regulation is the protection of species - regulating trade therein being only a means to that end - of the need to enable Member States to adopt or maintain stricter measures, and of the desire to avoid cumbersome provisions which would not be justified by their contribution to the effective implementation of the Regulation.

In doing so, the Council was able to incorporate, either verbatim, in substance or in part, most of the European Parliament amendments included by the Commission in its amended proposal.

2. Specific comments

(The following references relate, unless otherwise stated, to the text of the amended proposal; the references in bold relate to the text of the common position).

The following changes have been made by the Council to the amended proposal and accepted by the Commission:

(i) title, legal basis and Articles 1 and 10,

These have been changed in accordance with point 1 above, since some of the stricter measures appear in particular in Articles 8 (2) and 11 (1).

Consequently, Article 10, which was necessary in the context of the previous legal basis, has been deleted.

(ii) Articles 2 and 3

Some definitions of expressions not used in the enacting terms (points (d), (e), (g), (p) and (y)) or used in their normal meaning (points (f) and (i)) have been deleted from Article 2. The definitions in points (h) ('Member State of destination`) and (x) ('checks`) have been introduced in connection with Articles 4 and 5. The definition in point (ab) has been clarified (point (w)) to make it more workable in practice (deletion of the reference to the 'legality` of acquisition, adoption of a fixed point of reference, namely the date of entry into force of the Regulation).

In Article 3 the main changes relate to the criteria for inclusion in:

- Annex A (paragraph 1 (c)): a species covered by another Community text is no longer automatically listed; the provisions of Directives 79/409/EEC and 92/43/EEC relating to controlling trade are therefore not amended; the same applies to Regulation (EEC) No 348/81. Consequently, Article 24 (2) has been deleted,

- Annex B (paragraph 2 (d)): the Council considers that this criterion must be taken into account when any import permit is issued (Article 4 (2) (b) and (6) (c)). Article 9 (5) also includes a provision with the same protective effect for the movement of live specimens,

- Annex D (paragraph 4 (a)): since this Annex is a monitoring instrument employed in a Community context and since the potential effects of international trade on conservation have already been taken into account for Article 3 (2) (c) (i), it seems appropriate here to refer only to the volume of Community imports.

(iii) provisions linked with the accession of the Community to and the participation of the Member States in the Cites Convention.

As regards defining positions to be expressed at Conferences of the Parties, the Council felt that the usual mechanisms for participation in the Convention were sufficient and that there was therefore no need to include a specific provision (Article 19).

Moreover, various provisions relating to the way in which the Regulation would operate if the Community acceded to the Cites Convention have not been included so as not to prejudge the possible procedures for Community participation in the Convention which will have to be defined in the Act of Accession. These are Article 2 point (v) (Article 2 point (r)), Article 3 (1) (a), (2) (a) and (3) (a) ('species listed . . . on a proposal from the Commission`) and Article 3 (6) (Article 3 (5)), and Article 19.

(iv) Articles 4, 5, 6, 7, 12 and 13

Consideration of the legal implications of Articles 4 and 5 resulted in the use of the term 'evidence` being restricted to those provisions involving aspects for which evidence could actually be supplied (Article 4 (1) (b) (i) or Article 5 (2) (b)). Similarly, responsibility for the scientific opinion falls to the competent scientific authority (Article 4 (1) (a) or Article 5 (2) (a)) and no longer to the Scientific Review Group.

Articles 4 and 5 stipulate that introduction into or export from the Community will be subject to completion of the 'necessary checks`. Article 4 makes it clear that any restrictions provided for in paragraph 6 must be complied with when a decision is taken on issuing permits.

In addition, the wording of the conditions for issuing permits in Article 4 has been simplified. Hence, paragraph (1) (c) combines paragraphs (1) (c) (i) and (ii) and paragraph 2 provides that the permit may be issued only by the management authority of the Member State of destination. Paragraph 7 introduces a degree of flexibility with regard to the place in which the various checks must be carried out in order to take account of practical transport arrangements.

Article 5 (5) introduces an additional element of control in the form of the obligation for management authorities to consult one another where import and re-export take place in different Member States.

Article 6 (1) has been simplified by omitting the list of possible reasons for rejecting permit applications.

In Article 7:

- paragraph 1 clarifies the application of the provisions relating to specimens of species listed in Annex A which have not been taken from the wild by stating that, with the exception of control of commercial activities, they are to be treated as specimens listed in Annex B for the purposes of the whole Regulation (and not simply Articles 4 and 5). Moreover, this change combined with the deletion of Article 7 (1) (b) re-establishes the obligations arising from Articles 4 and 5 in respect of specimens which were exempt from them under paragraph 1 (b). A further result is that Article 9 (5) must be deleted,

- since no documents exist for trade between third countries in the species referred to in paragraph 2, they must be fully exempted from checks and presentation of documents during transit,

- in paragraph 3 the derogation relating to personal effects is extended to Annex A, subject to certain conditions, by analogy with what is already stipulated in the Convention (Article VII, paragraph 3),

- in paragraph 4 the documentary formalities have been eased without reducing protection.

The only change in Article 12 concerns paragraph 2 (a) (Article 11 (2) (a)) in which any competent authority may now establish that the conditions for the issuance of a permit or certificate were not met, but must do so in consultation with the issuing authority. This wording will reduce instances of permits being issued incorrectly.

Article 13 has not been included since the Council feels that it is inappropriate to introduce a harmonizing provision in this area, although it does consider that, when setting the charges for processing applications for permits or certificates, Member States should ensure that discrepancies in such charges do not result in the administrative burden being shifted.

(v) Articles 8, 9 and 14

In Article 8:

- in the interest of effective controls, the accent has been placed on commercial activities and thus, inter alia, on a ban on keeping specimens in connection with such activities,

Keeping specimens other than for commercial activities is therefore now only secondary and is one of the areas in which Member States may adopt stricter measures (paragraph 2),

- the derogation conditions laid down in paragraph 3 (e) have been made more stringent (paragraph 3 (e)),

- paragraph 5, which is covered by the general wording of paragraph 4, has been deleted. Since Article 19 (1) provides for a standard definition of the documents required by the Regulation and Article 4 (2) stipulates the conditions for introduction into the Community, while the definition of proof of acquisition is a matter for the Member States, paragraph 7 has been deleted.

In Article 9:

- the checks provided on movements other than those of live specimens of species listed in Annex A have been reinforced (paragraph 1, proof of legal origin). On the other hand, the notification of movement provided for in paragraph 4, which is rendered superfluous by paragraph 2, has been deleted,

- paragraph 6 has incorporated from paragraph 8 only as much as is necessary for the consistent implementation of the Regulation, particularly as regards its objective and Articles 3 and 4.

In the main, the changes in Article 14 (Article 12) are intended only to align its wording more closely with that of Articles 4 and 5 and on Community customs legislation, to specify (paragraph 4) the conditions for use of an office other than one designated in accordance with paragraph 1, and to ensure that the public are informed of the Regulation (paragraph 5).

(vi) Articles 16 to 18

Article 14 added to Article 16 the obligation to inform the Convention Secretariat of steps taken in cases of infringement and of the outcome of investigations relating to Cites species.

Article 15 added to Article 17 the obligation to inform the public of the implementation of the Convention and the Regulation (paragraph 1) and the Convention Secretariat of movements of specimens of Cites species between the Community and third countries (paragraph 4 (b)). The general wording of paragraph 5 covers all the general points from paragraph 5 (a) and (b).

Article 16 reinforces Article 18 (4) by requiring seizure of live specimens of species listed in Annex B or C brought in without appropriate documents (paragraph 4).

(vii) Articles 15, 20, 21 and 22

In Article 13, the wording of Article 15 has been simplified and a time limit introduced in paragraph 3 (a) for forwarding information on the management bodies to the Commission. The time limits referred to in paragraph 2 (b) and (c) have been extended by one month (paragraph 3 (b) and (c)).

Article 17 (2) (b) clarifies Article 20 (2) (b) by deleting the reference to the best scientific information available, which goes without saying, and specifying that it is the Commission (chairman of the Group) which forwards its conclusions to the Committee set up by Article 18.

Article 19 lists the various provisions to be adopted as indicated in the Articles of the Regulation in accordance with the same principle as Article 22, but using different procedures. When analysing the importance of the various provisions listed in Article 19, the Council considered that:

- some provisions of a regulatory nature (listed in points 1 and 2) could be assigned to a type IIIa committee (Article 18 (2), instead of IIb as proposed in Article 21),

- others (listed in points 3 and 4), either because they are related to the amendment of Annexes B, C or D (or of Annex A resulting from the Convention), or because they refer to measures 'additional` to those in the Regulation, may, although assigned to a committee, require tighter control by the Council, which has therefore chosen a type IIIb committee (Article 18 (3)),

- finally, the amendments to Annex A which do not result from the Convention, because they affect species requiring greater protection, must be covered by a Council Decision and are therefore not subject to committee procedure.

(ix) Articles 24 and 25

In addition to the comments already made in point (ii), first indent, Article 21 adds to Article 24 a paragraph 2 permitting transitional measures pending the adoption of measures implementing the Regulation and a paragraph 3 ensuring that there is still an adequate degree of protection for species which were particularly protected by Regulation (EEC) No 3626/82.

Article 22 incorporates the essence of Article 25 and adjusts the date of entry into force in accordance with the progress of the procedure.

(x) Annexes

The species listed have been included in accordance with the criteria in Article 3 and therefore taking account of the outcome of the last Conference of the Parties to the Cites Convention.

Cites species protected by Directives 79/409/EEC and 92/43/EEC have also been added to Annex A to maintain a degree of consistency between the levels of protection offered to the same species by different instruments. Annex D for the moment comprises only a very small number of species pending additional work by the Scientific Review Group.

(1) OJ No C 26 , 3. 2. 1992, p. 1.

(2) OJ No C 194 , 19. 7. 1993, p. 289.

(3) OJ No C 131 , 12. 5. 1994, p. 1.

(4) OJ No C 223 , 31. 8. 1992, p. 19.

(5) OJ No C 17 , 22. 1. 1996, p. 430.