- Back
- A brief update on the coral import situation in the
European Union
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- An extensive search, through personal contacts as well as on
the Internet, has revealed that the new regulations on
Scleractinia trade within EU pertain to the following:
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- The EU Scientific Review Group has, in meeting
16.09.1999, raised negative opinions (see explanation
below) on the import of the following species from Indonesia:
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- Blastomussa merleti
- Cynarina lacrymalis
- Trachyphyllia
geoffroyi
- Euphyllia divisa
- Euphyllia glabrescens
- Plerogyra simplex
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- In order to explain the importance of SRG opinions, I have
copied the following from
http://www.wcmc.org.uk/species/trade/eu/traderef.html :
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- Opinions of the Scientific Review Group (SRG)
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- These may exist in cases where the SRG has examined whether or
not imports in particular circumstances would comply with the
conservation requirements of Regulation 338/97. The SRG opinion
may change rapidly if new information about the trade or
conservation status of a species in a particular country of origin
becomes available. The opinion of the SRG will normally be
followed by individual Scientific Authorities but is only
indicative and Scientific Authorities of Member States can give a
different opinion to that of the SRG (e.g. if new information
becomes available). Where there is no SRG opinion, the decision
about whether or not the conservation requirements of Regulation
338/97 are met will be taken by the Scientific Authority of the
Member State in question. Should they find that the conditions are
not met, this information will be immediately relayed to the other
Member States and a uniform position adopted by all Member
States.
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- Community import restrictions
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- When the SRG has given a negative opinion about the
acceptability of the imports of a certain species from a certain
country of origin (or in the case of species suffering high
mortality in transport, unlikely to survive in captivity, or
proven to cause ecological threat to native species), the European
Commission will consult with the country of origin concerned and
may subsequently establish a binding import restriction, which
will be published in the Official Journal of the European
Communities. Member States will respect these restrictions until
such time as they are lifted.
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- Current Opinions and Restrictions
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- The EU Wildlife Trade Reference Database below shows the
current SRG opinions and community import restrictions. It can be
used as an INDICATION about whether or not an import permit might
be issued in particular circumstances.
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- However it should be clearly understood that firstly all other
conditions (valid export permit, suitable housing conditions for
live animals etc.) for the issue of a permit must be met, and
secondly that the conservation circumstances surrounding species
can and do change and this may result in a different consequence
than that implied by the entries in the EU Wildlife Trade
Reference Database tables.
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- --- end of quote ---
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- To find an overview of regulations pertaining to individual
species of Scleractinia - search from
- http://www.wcmc.org.uk/species/trade/eu/database.htm
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- Best wishes,
- Svein A. Fossa
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- MARS - http://mars.reefkeepers.net