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Bill C-446

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SUMMARY

This enactment provides additional controls on international trade in wildlife.

It supplements the requirements for import and export permits to ensure that the exporting and importing country permits the trade and has authorized the particular shipment.

It adds protection for wildlife in transit and ensures that proper care is available during shipment and on arrival.

It requires full records to be maintained respecting trades and shipments. It requires the maintenance of publicly accessible statistical information by government, which is to be tabled in Parliament annually and transmitted to CITES.

It requires the Minister to establish a process for the mandatory marking of pre-Convention specimens of imported species, according to standards established by CITES. It makes it an offence to alter, deface, erase or forge a mark.

It requires the Minister to establish a Management Authority and a Scientific Authority to carry out the administrative and scientific aspects of the control of international wildlife trade. Although there are branches of the Department of the Environment that presently carry out similar functions, this enactment will make their existence a statutory requirement and codify their duties and powers.

The establishment of the Authorities will not require additional funding, as the initial officials and staff will be those that already carry out similar functions.

It requires applicants for permits to maintain and make available to the Minister full records of all their trading activities.