Protection of wild fauna and flora: control of trade of species

In declaring that the illegal trade in species of wild fauna and flora was now on a scale similar to that of the drugs and arms market, the rapporteur, Mrs van Putten, welcomed the new regulations as an improvement on the previous situation. She approved the new legal basis (Article 130s replacing Article 100a) and welcomed the new powers of sanction provided for in the proposal and the introduction of an Annex D affording protection to other species, whereas the Washington Convention contained no such annex. Commissioner Bjerregaard pointed to the improvements that had been made to the new proposal, especially regarding conditions of transport for the species in question. As far as Amendment No 5 was concerned, however, she pointed out that while she personally shared Parliament’s opinion, she thought that by retaining this amendment there was a risk that the Council would have to have its say in the matter as part of the cooperation procedure.