§4221 Review of African Elephant Conservation Programs

Summary

Within one month after October 7, 1988, the Secretary must ask for information about each ivory-producing country’s elephant conservation program. The Secretary must publish a notice in the Federal Register asking anyone interested to send information and also send a written request through the Secretary of State to each ivory-producing country. The Secretary must review each program and, no later than one year after October 7, 1988, publish a decision in the Federal Register saying whether the country meets five tests: it is a member of CITES and follows the CITES Ivory Control System; its program uses the best available information and is quickly gathering data on habitat, carrying capacity, total population and trends, and yearly births and deaths; elephant taking is properly controlled and monitored; its ivory quota is based on that information and matches the amount confiscated or used inside the country; and it has not allowed exports of raw ivory that exceed its CITES quota. If there is not enough information within one year, the Secretary may delay the decision until December 31, 1989, but must publish an explanation when doing so.