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Conf. 10.6

Control of trade in tourist souvenir specimens

RECALLING Resolution Conf. 4.12 (Rev.), adopted at the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (Gaborone, 1983) and amended at the ninth meeting (Fort Lauderdale, 1994);

OBSERVING that Article III, paragraph 3 (c), of the Convention requires that specimens of Appendix-I species are not to be used for primarily commercial purposes in the importing country;

CONSIDERING that the exemption in Article VII, paragraph 3, of the Convention does not apply to specimens of Appendix-I species that are souvenirs being imported by a person returning to his State of usual residence;

CONSIDERING further that the exemption in Article VII, paragraph 3, of the Convention does not apply to specimens of Appendix-II species that are souvenirs being imported by a person returning to his State of usual residence if the specimens were taken from the wild in a State requiring the prior grant of export permits before the export of such specimens;

RECOGNIZING however that export permits are frequently not required by exporting countries;

NOTING that for Parties other than the exporting and importing Parties such specimens of Appendix-II species are, under Article VII, exempt from CITES provisions;

RECOGNIZING that parts and derivatives of species listed in Appendices I and II continue to be widely sold as tourist souvenir specimens and that specimens of Appendix-I species continue, in some countries, to be offered for sale at gift shops at international airports and other places (including duty-free areas) catering largely to international travellers;

RECALLING paragraph h) of Resolution Conf. 9.7, adopted at the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (Fort Lauderdale, 1994), which notes that the Convention does not make special provision for airport lounges (including duty-free shops), free ports or non-Customs zones;

RECOGNIZING that the sale of specimens of Appendix-I species in places of international departure may encourage, either intentionally or unintentionally, the illegal export of such items, and that such export is an issue of concern with respect to the conservation of such species;

ACKNOWLEDGING that sale of tourist souvenir specimens of Appendix-I species can in some cases form a substantial part of a trade which could threaten the survival of such species;

RECOGNIZING that there is still widespread public ignorance of the purpose and requirements of the Convention and of domestic legislation relating to trade in endangered species;

RECOGNIZING further that international airports, seaports and border crossings provide an excellent opportunity for educational displays informing travellers about the requirements of the Convention, and that sales of tourist souvenir specimens in such places may seriously detract from that educational message;

THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION

URGES that:

a) all Parties comply fully with the requirements of Article III of the Convention with respect to tourist souvenir specimens of Appendix-I species;

b) Parties take all necessary steps to prohibit the sale of tourist souvenir specimens of Appendix-I species in places of international departure, such as international airports, seaports and border crossings and particularly in duty-free areas beyond Customs control points;

c) such steps include inspection and provision of information to merchants;

d) all Parties make their best efforts to comply fully with the purpose of the Convention with respect to tourist souvenir specimens of Appendix-II species and in particular control export and import of specimens of those species which are likely to be adversely affected by heavy trade; and

e) importing countries experiencing problems with imports of tourist souvenir specimens notify the relevant exporting countries and the CITES Secretariat accordingly;

RECOMMENDS that:

a) all Parties provide information through displays and by other means, in all relevant languages, in places of international departure and arrival, informing travellers about the purpose and requirements of the Convention, and of their responsibilities with respect to international and domestic laws relating to the export and import of wildlife specimens;

b) Parties, in collaboration with national and international tourist agencies, carriers and other relevant bodies, take all possible steps to ensure that tourists travelling abroad are made aware of the import and export controls that are or may be in force;

c) a person in possession of tourist souvenir specimens of Appendix-II species covered by an export permit be afforded the exemption for personal effects given by Article VII when entering States other than the State of usual residence or when leaving States other than the State of export; and

d) the term ‘tourist souvenir specimen’ apply only to personal and household effects acquired outside the owner's State of usual residence and not be applied to live specimens;

DIRECTS the Standing Committee to consider ways of assisting any Party which informs the Committee of difficulties in the application of this Resolution; and

REPEALS Resolution Conf. 4.12 (Rev.) (Gaborone, 1983 as amended at Fort Lauderdale, 1994) - Control of Tourist Souvenir Specimens.