************************************************************
A spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) today (December 21) said that circular letters have been issued to inform local traders of the proposals submitted to the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). A total of 71 proposals have been submitted to amend the CITES Appendices relating to some shark species, turtles used as food and pets, and trees used for timber as well as others pertaining to a variety of wild animal and plant species.
These proposals will be discussed at the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES, which will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, in March 2013. Should the proposals be adopted, amendments to the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap 586) will be initiated in order to implement any changes in regulation of the trade in endangered species.
The AFCD will hold briefing sessions for relevant traders and associations next month to explain the proposals and their implications for traders.
The complete list of the proposals including the plant and animal species involved is available on the website (www.cites.hk). For enquiries, please contact the AFCD through hk_cites@afcd.gov.hk.
The CITES is an international agreement which seeks to ensure that the survival of wild animals and plants will not be threatened because of international trade. The Conference of the Parties to CITES convenes every two to three years and will, among other things, consider and adopt amendments to Appendices I and II and some annotations to the Appendices. Representatives from the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will join the People's Republic of China delegation in attending the conference.
Ends/Friday, December 21, 2012
Issued at HKT 15:01
NNNN
