No. 2001/039

Geneva, 9 July 2001

Notification to the Parties

CONCERNING:

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Recommendation to suspend trade

1. At its 45th meeting (Paris, France, 19-22 June 2001), the Standing Committee accepted a report of the Secretariat (SC45 Doc. 11.2) in which it described the continuing fraudulent use of export permits issued by the Management Authority of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

2. The Standing Committee recommended that, until further notice, the Parties refuse any import of specimens of CITES-listed species from and any export or re-export of such specimens to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

3. This recommendation will be withdrawn when the Secretariat is satisfied that the Democratic Republic of the Congo has: adequately investigated the fraudulent use of permits and certificates previously identified to it by the Secretariat; put in place measures to eliminate, as far as reasonably practical, the abuse or misuse of permits and certificates issued by its Management Authority; and implemented adequate export controls, particularly for live specimens.