Notification to the Parties

CONCERNING:

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Partial withdrawal of recommendation to suspend trade

1. In Notification to the Parties No. 2002/020 of 9 April 2002 the Secretariat conveyed the decision of the Standing Committee, made at its 46th meeting (Geneva, March 2002), that its recommendation to Parties to suspend trade in specimens of CITES species with the United Arab Emirates would be withdrawn in three phases, as follows:

Phase 1: With regard to trade for non-commercial purposes other than movements of live birds of prey, the recommended suspension was withdrawn immediately;

Phase 2: With regard to trade in live birds of prey for non-commercial purposes, the recommended suspension was to be withdrawn when the registration of birds of prey was complete and this had been verified by the Secretariat.

Phase 3: With regard to commercial trade, the recommended suspension shall be reconsidered at the 47th meeting of the Standing Committee.

2. The Secretariat conducted a verification mission to the United Arab Emirates from 27 July to 1 August 2002, during which it inspected the registration system that has been put in place and visited owners and keepers of birds of prey on a randomly-selected basis. The Secretariat was satisfied that the United Arab Emirates had fulfilled the undertaking it made to the Standing Committee regarding a registration system.

3. The Secretariat hereby notifies the Parties that Phase 2 is complete and the recommendation to suspend trade in live birds of prey for non-commercial purposes is withdrawn with immediate effect.

4. The Secretariat reminds the Parties of its guidance regarding what should be understood by the term ‘non-commercial’. The general principles to be applied should be those provided in connection with the import of specimens of Appendix-I species in Resolution Conf. 5.10 (Definition of ‘primarily commercial purposes’). Moreover, since the issue of concern is the controls that are applied in the United Arab Emirates, it should be clear that the matter of whether or not a proposed transaction is commercial relates only to the purpose or nature of the transaction in the United Arab Emirates.

5. The United Arab Emirates intends, in the near future, to introduce a ‘passport’ system to facilitate the frequent cross-border movement of personally owned falcons. This will follow the principles of Article VII, paragraph 3, of the Convention and Resolution Conf. 10.20 (Frequent cross-border movements of personally owned live animals). The majority of movements of falcons under this process will be for hunting purposes. The United Arab Emirates is currently communicating with the Management Authorities of expected countries of destination regarding the acceptance of the ‘passport’ certificates that will be issued to authorize such movements. The Secretariat will provide further information regarding this system, together with samples of the ‘passport’, in due course.

6. Phase 3, the withdrawal of the recommendation to suspend commercial trade in all specimens of CITES-listed species, will be reconsidered at the 47th meeting of the Standing Committee.

7. This Notification repeals Notification to the Parties No. 2002/020 of 9 April 2002.