Date: Tue, 25 Apr 2000 17:32:53 PDT From: cjteichr@sfu.ca To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg1275$foo@default> Subject: Proposed changes to CITES regs in Canada
Hi everyone,
Figured I'd get away from the wild-collection hot topic and get back
to an old favourite of ours, CITES!!! Yay! Ok, from past debates this is
yet another one of those topics that people feel strongly one way or the
other. The major point of debate is that growers felt it was unfair
to lump all species in a CITES appendix II, just because one of them was
classified as appendix I. For example, N.rajah and khasiana are Appendix
I species, and since the authorities have trouble telling these two, and
all other Nep species apart, all other Nep species are classified in
Appendix II, and face trading restrictions (though admittedly, not as
strict as Appendix I species). The other point of debate was that most
growers felt it unfair that if we wanted to trade just a couple of plants
with friends across the border, we shouldn't have to go through the process
of applying for and purchasing the necessary CITES documents.
Well, it seems that others had similar concerns (at least within Canada).
If you look at the following website:
http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/cites/wappa/proposals.htm
you'll see a proposal put forth to slightly alter CITES regulations
within Canada. Essential, it proposes that plants (and animals, but
I'll stick to plants here) that are not endangered within Canada and are
not considered a pest species should be allowed to be taken freely across
borders. In effect, they should be treated as personal provisions (just
like your Elvis painting on velvet). The main reasoning is that the
customs officials and Agriculture Can./Env. Canada just don't have the
resources to stop, inspect, and make sure every single person with one
plant has proper certification. This is actually done in practise already,
with customs fully aware, although if this proposal goes through, it will
then be legal! As they also state, the impact one individual makes is
small as compared to commercial operations, which brings up the topic
of exceptions.
Excepted from this proposal would be commercial nurseries (which is
fine, since the reputable cp dealers already have their CITES certificates).
Also, you would not be exempt from other regulations such as the requirement
for a phytosanitary certificate. Again, if you travel across the border
with the plant in the pot and say it's a houseplant (which most can be
considered, since many won't survive outdoors in Canada year round), they're
not likely to care. The main concern is agricultural pests.
So, it looks like the issue of CITES is not over yet, and that it may
actually become less of a headache than in previous times. Hopefully
it passes legislation, and hopefully other countries follow suit!
Informationally yours,
Chris
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