§4904 Moratoria on Imports of Exotic Birds Covered by Convention

Summary

Imports are banned right away for any exotic bird species that the Animals Committee report (the one adopted at the 8th meeting of the Conference of the Parties) calls a “Category B” species. That ban stays in place until the Secretary, after giving notice and a chance for public comment, finds that the countries where the birds come from have fixed the trade problem and then makes the specific findings required in section 4905(c) and adds the species to the list in section 4905(a). The Secretary can also suspend imports of any bird listed in any Appendix to the Convention if trade is harming the species, if there isn’t enough information to be sure trade is safe, or if recommended fixes haven’t been done, and if a suspension might help conserve the species. Any such suspension ends only after the Secretary, after notice and public comment, makes the section 4905(c) findings and lists the species under section 4905(a). One year after October 23, 1992, imports of any Appendix-listed species are banned unless the Secretary makes those findings and lists the species. During the 1-year period beginning on October 23, 1992, the Secretary must bar imports that exceed the number imported in the most recent year with complete data.