NOTIFICATION TO THE PARTIES No. 692 Lausanne, 24 August 1992 CONCERNING: Transport of Live Specimens 1.At the request of the Chairman of the CITES Working Group on the Transport of Live Specimens (TWG), Dr Susan Lieberman of the Management Authority of the United States of America, the Secretariat informs all Parties that the Standing Committee has accepted the attached revised Terms of Reference for the TWG. Parties are reminded that the TWG is a permanent working group reporting to the Standing Committee. 2.In order to facilitate the implementation of Resolution Conf. 8.12, and at the request of the Chairman of the TWG, and the Standing Committee through its adoption of the Terms of Reference, the Secretariat requests that the Parties maintain records of the numbers of live birds per shipment and of mortalities of birds in transport, and that they provide a copy of these data to the Secretariat, to be forwarded to the Chairman of the TWG. 3.The Secretariat further requests that Parties continue to provide to the Secretariat, information on shipments in which there are high mortalities or in which the IATA Live Animals Regulations are not complied with. This information will be forwarded to the Chairman of the TWG. 4.The Secretariat wishes to inform the Parties that a meeting of the TWG is tentatively planned for March or April 1993 in Dakar, Senegal. Parties will be notified closer to that time of the date and place of the meeting, and of the availability of external funding to facilitate broad participation in the meeting. 5.The Secretariat wishes to express its concern and that of the TWG regarding the conditions for transport of live animals, which are often contrary to the provisions of the Convention. 6.The Parties are reminded that, pursuant to the Convention, export or re-export documents should not be issued unless the Management Authority is "satisfied that any living specimen will be so prepared and shipped as to minimize the risk of injury, damage to health or cruel treatment". 7.The Secretariat further reminds the Parties that Resolution Conf. 7.13 recommends that applicants for export permits and re-export certificates be notified that they are required to prepare and ship live animals in accordance with the IATA Live Animals Regulations for transport by air and the CITES Guidelines for Transport of Live Specimens for marine and terrestrial shipments. Resolution Conf. 8.5 recommends that any permit or certificate issued for live animals state that it "is only valid if the transport conditions comply with the CITES Guidelines for Transport of Live Animals or, in case of air transport, with the IATA Live Animals Regulations". 8.The CITES Guidelines for Transport are available from the Secretariat in English, French, or Spanish. For the IATA Live Animals Regulations, please refer to Notification No. 693. Working Group on the Transport of Live Specimens Terms of Reference The Terms of Reference for the TWG, to cover the period between the eighth and ninth meetings of the Conference of the Parties, are as follows: 1.Assist Parties, when requested, in the implementation of the Convention and resolutions, pertaining to both the preparation for shipment and transport of live specimens. 2.Co-operate with the Secretariat in presenting training workshops focused on assisting exporting Parties in implementing the treaty and relevant resolutions dealing with the preparation for shipment and humane transport of live animals; such work shall include planning and participating in such workshops. 3.Seek information from the Parties, with the assistance of the Secretariat in accordance with Resolutions Conf. 7.13 and 8.12, in an effort to obtain data and information on: a) numbers of live specimens per shipment and mortalities and causes thereof related to transport; and b) individual cases of high mortalities in transport for any CITES-listed species. 4.Obtain information from scientists, veterinarians, zoological institutions, and other experts, and, in co-operation with the Secretariat, make recommendations to the Parties designed to minimize mortality. Such recommendations may include determining which species of birds have significant mortality rates in transport such that Parties may choose to take appropriate measures, including temporary suspension of trade for commercial purposes in the species in question (in accordance with Resolution Conf. 8.12). 5.In light of discussions at the eighth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, previous meetings of the TWG, and adoption of Resolution Conf. 8.12, pay particular attention to the preparation for shipment and transport of live birds listed in the CITES appendices, though not at the expense of attention to other live CITES-listed animals. 6.Report any findings in accordance with the above to the Standing Committee, particularly regarding high mortalities, injury, damage to health or cruel treatment, or the lack of implementation of the Convention or relevant Conference resolutions. Report to the Chairman of the Standing Committee on the activities of the TWG. 7.Provide for liaison, in conjunction with the Secretariat, between the Standing Committee and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Live Animals Board. 8.Review the IATA Live Animals Regulations and make recommendations to the Live Animals Board for changes to meet CITES requirements. 9.Co-operate with the IATA Live Animals Board and the Secretariat in the planning and presentation of training workshops for airline personnel and others responsible for the preparation and shipment of live animals. 10. Continue to work on preparing/revising international transportation guidelines for consideration of the Parties concerning terrestrial (road and rail) and marine transportation of live animals. 11. Endeavour to involve exporting Parties in the activities and deliberations of the TWG. 12. Arrange for two meetings of the TWG between the eighth and ninth meetings of the Conference of the Parties. The TWG meetings are tentatively planned for March 1993 and January 1994. 13. Prepare new draft resolutions, as appropriate and only if necessary, for consideration of the Conference of the Parties.