OVER
R Powell, ECD (1)
F Holroyd, HKD
J Dunlop, SAFD
D Chilcott, CAFD
HKC 15
G Plant, Legal Advisers
Reference
EC BAN ON IMPORTS OF AFRICAN ELEPHANT IVORY
PA
165
Spole & M
میرا
丁
Jeffrey grass
1. The EC Commission has now produced a draft Regulation aimed at introducing a total ban on imports of African elephant ivory into community countries. The DOE in Bristol are preparing an Explanatory Memorandum (for the scrutinies committees of both Houses) and have asked for our comments.
2.
If
The two drafts (EC Regulation and DOE Explanatory Memorandum) are attached. DOE Ministers have approved the draft Regulation and the Commission have been informed. the Regulation is approved by qualified majority it will be published in the European Journal and become effective two weeks after that.
3. I attach a copy of our suggested draft reply to the DOE and would be grateful for any comments you may have on it, by mid-day on Monday 10 July (to John Jeffrey on 270 2627).
4. The suggested draft reply is self-explanatory, but the following additional background may be useful:
(i) DOE officials take the view that the EC Regulation is an interim stop-gap measure aimed at preventing the situation worsening. They believe that the longer-term solution to be worked out at the CITES Conference in October might be a more appropriate instrument to take account of concern expressed by individual countries;
(ii) the list of possible exceptions (attached to the draft regulation) does not form part of the regulation and is to be discussed further at next meeting of the EC CITES Working Group on 27 July. As it stands this list of exceptions does not offer any solution to the Hong Kong problem.
(iii) DOE are not pressing the case for Hong Kong or for those African States which might be adversely affected by a total EC ban on imports.
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CODE 18-77
C34ADD/SLK
Лиша
W R Henderson
Maritime, Aviation and Environment Department WH MZ 13
270 2627