CITES CoP16 Digest - Species Survival Network

DOCUMENT BACKGROUND / CURRENT STATUS EFFECT OF DOCUMENT SSN VIEW
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38. Purpose codes on CITES
permits and certificates
Cop16 Doc. 38
• RC 12.3 (Rev. CoP15) on Permits and certificates,
inter alia, provides a list of the purpose-of-transaction
codes.
• Decision 14.54 (Rev. CoP15) directs an SC WG on
purpose-of-transaction codes to define purpose-oftransaction
codes to encourage their consistent use;
to consider the possible elimination of current codes
or the inclusion of new ones; and to report to CoP16.
• ensure that African and Asian elephant range
States are included in the process and that all
future work relating to implementation of this
Decision is conducted in both French and English.
• Prepared by the Chair of the SC WG on purpose-oftransaction
codes.
• Provides amendments to RC 12.3 (Rev. CoP15)
(Annex) that include:
• definitions of purpose codes;
• changes to the purpose codes including:
··
deletion of codes G (botanical garden), M
(medical, including biomedical research), E
(educational), and Z (zoo);
··
expansion of code N to include the deleted
codes (G, M, E, Z) for non-commercial purposes;
and
··
expansion of code T to include the deleted
codes (G, M, E, Z) for commercial purposes;
and
• statement that purpose codes on the export and
import documents do not need to match for the
transaction to occur; the purpose code on the
export permit does not necessarily reflect the purpose
of import.
mechanism will complement and support the AEAP and
its implementation (of critical importance as AEAP is a
consensus document adopted by all 37 African elephant
range States).
• Consultation processes thus far with regard to Decision
14.77 have been inadequate, partly due to lack of translation
into French. Proposed revision will ensure such
problems cannot recur by requiring that any consultation
process has adequate confirmed funds for full translation
before work can be initiated.
OPPOSE
• The proposed changes to purpose codes would eliminate
important details regarding the nature of transactions. For
example, under the new codes, trade for zoos would be
under codes T or N but neither code would distinguish
trade for zoos from a number of other types of transactions
(e.g. educational, re-introduction). This could have
negative implications for analysis of trade data and understanding
trade levels and patterns.
• RC 12.3 (Rev. CoP15) states that the codes are to be
used to state “the purpose of the transaction” (emphasis
added); this means that the purpose code on import and
export should be the same for a single transaction; however,
the proposed amendment states that the codes do
not need to be the same.
• SSN strongly urges the Parties to SC to direct the WG to
provide supporting arguments for any proposed changes
to the purpose code definitions: none have been provided,
nor are problems associated with the use of the current
codes identified.
39. Transport of live
specimens
Cop16 Doc. 39
• Decision 15.59 directs AC and PC to, inter alia:
• proceed with replacing the CITES Guidelines for
transport and preparation for shipment of wild
live animals and plants (1981) with new guidelines
for consideration at CoP16;
• review and propose revisions to RC 10.21 (Rev.
CoP14) on Transport of live specimens and RC
12.3 (Rev. CoP14) on Permits and certificates, for
consideration at CoP16; and
• report at CoP16.
• Prepared by Co-chairs of joint AC/PC transport WG
and Secretariat.
• Proposes amendments to RC.10 21 (Rev. CoP14)
(Annex 1) that include, inter alia:
• examining, when appropriate, any regularly high
mortality shipments of live specimens and making
recommendations to relevant Parties, exporters,
importers and transport companies on how to
avoid this in the future;
SUPPORT IN PART / OPPOSE IN PART
• Regarding proposed amendments to RC 10.21 (Rev.
CoP14), SSN urges Parties to:
• reject the addition of “when appropriate” in para d)
as all “regularly” high mortality shipments should be
examined;
• support incorporation of CITES Guidelines; and
• reject deletion of introductory text because these
statements remain valid.
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