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Notification to the Parties

No. 947 Geneva, 18 November 1996

CONCERNING:

RESOLUTION CONF. 9.22

Universal Tagging System for the Identification of Crocodilian Skins

1. Some Parties that authorize import, export or re-export of crocodile products have requested the assistance of the Secretariat in interpreting language in Resolution Conf. 9.22 regarding tag specifications for crocodile skins and parts.

2. A question has arisen as to whether the tag specifications in operative paragraph d) of the Resolution apply both to tags that are applied to skins and to tags that are applied to the transparent containers of parts (e.g. tails, throats, feet etc.), which are referred to in operative paragraph c).

3. After consultation with the Animals Committee (13th meeting, Pruhonice, Czech Republic, 23-27 September 1996), it is clear that it was the intent of the drafters of Resolution Conf. 9.22 that all the specifications described in paragraph d) should apply to tags for skins. Tags for containers of parts should meet all the IDENTIFICATION AND INFORMATION specifications in paragraph d) or, in the case of re-exports, paragraph i). However, except for the specific property of being NON-REUSABLE, tags for containers of parts need not conform to the physical specifications ("self-locking mechanism, heat resistance, inertia to chemical and mechanical processing, and alphanumeric information applied by permanent stamping") itemized in paragraph d). Conformance to these physical requirements is OPTIONAL for tags on containers of parts, but Parties may choose to adopt the stricter skin tag requirements if they so wish.

4. The Secretariat requests the Parties that require or intend to require the use of tags for containers to send it at least one sample tag for reference.