Orchid trade controls lifted at CITES conference

www.chinaview.cn 2004-10-14 14:03:40

BANGKOK, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's proposal to lift control on artificially-bred orchid hybrid has been approved by a wild
life protecting conference here.

This is the first time that Thailand's proposals on "downgrading" plant species to relax trade rules have been adopted at the
166-member meeting of the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which ends on Thursday.

The kingdom's request for the exclusion of all artificially-bred orchid hybrids from CITES appendices last week sparked a heated
debate among delegates from the European Union (EU) and wildlife protection groups.

They argued that it was difficult to differentiate artificially propagated flowers from wild orchids.

A revised proposal was finally adopted on Wednesday after Thailand agreed to maintain strict trade control on eight endangered
orchid genera.

"The removal of orchid hybrids from CITES's Appendix II would facilitate orchid trading because export and import can be
conducted without seeking CITES approval," Surakrai Sangkhasuphan,a plant specialist at the Department of Agriculture was quoted by
Bangkok Post newspaper as saying on Thursday.

Major importers of Thai orchids include the United States, Japan, and EU countries.

Thailand's other proposals approved at the meeting included easing of international trade rules for the Blue Vanda orchid,
Dragon Bone tree, Crown of Thorns and upgrading of the Irrawaddy dolphin from Appendix II to Appendix I to ensure improved
protection for the species.

Entering into force in 1975, CITES is regarded as one of the most effective international wildlife conservation treaties.

The first to be held in Southeast Asia, the 13th Meeting of theConference of the Parties to CITES attracted participation of
delegations from 166 nations. About 100 proposals and resolutions on protecting various animal and plant species have been
discussedat the meeting.




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Okay, now I read it on the CITES site, so I believe it. Am I the only one who hadn't heard this yet, or isn't it the least bit
exciting to anyone else???
--
Reka

This is LIFE! It's not a rehearsal. Don't miss it!
http://www.rolbox.it/hukari/index.html

"Reka" schrieb im Newsbeitrag ...
Orchid trade controls lifted at CITES conference

www.chinaview.cn 2004-10-14 14:03:40

BANGKOK, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's proposal to lift control on artificially-bred orchid hybrid has been approved by a
wild
life protecting conference here.

This is the first time that Thailand's proposals on "downgrading" plant species to relax trade rules have been adopted at the
166-member meeting of the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which ends on Thursday.

The kingdom's request for the exclusion of all artificially-bred orchid hybrids from CITES appendices last week sparked a
heated
debate among delegates from the European Union (EU) and wildlife protection groups.

They argued that it was difficult to differentiate artificially propagated flowers from wild orchids.

A revised proposal was finally adopted on Wednesday after Thailand agreed to maintain strict trade control on eight endangered
orchid genera.

"The removal of orchid hybrids from CITES's Appendix II would facilitate orchid trading because export and import can be
conducted without seeking CITES approval," Surakrai Sangkhasuphan,a plant specialist at the Department of Agriculture was quoted
by
Bangkok Post newspaper as saying on Thursday.

Major importers of Thai orchids include the United States, Japan, and EU countries.

Thailand's other proposals approved at the meeting included easing of international trade rules for the Blue Vanda orchid,
Dragon Bone tree, Crown of Thorns and upgrading of the Irrawaddy dolphin from Appendix II to Appendix I to ensure improved
protection for the species.

Entering into force in 1975, CITES is regarded as one of the most effective international wildlife conservation treaties.

The first to be held in Southeast Asia, the 13th Meeting of theConference of the Parties to CITES attracted participation of
delegations from 166 nations. About 100 proposals and resolutions on protecting various animal and plant species have been
discussedat the meeting.



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It does sound exciting but I'm sitting here thinking "what's the
catch?". ;-)
What does it mean when it says "Thailand agreed to maintain strict trade
control on eight endangered orchid genera." ?
Are these rules for the whole CITES world or just Thailand? What 8
genera are they talking about?

Steve


Reka wrote:
Okay, now I read it on the CITES site, so I believe it. Am I the only one who hadn't heard this yet, or isn't it the least bit
exciting to anyone else???

It does sound exciting but I'm sitting here thinking "what's the
catch?". ;-)
What does it mean when it says "Thailand agreed to maintain strict trade
control on eight endangered orchid genera." ?
Are these rules for the whole CITES world or just Thailand? What 8
genera are they talking about?

Steve


Reka wrote:
Okay, now I read it on the CITES site, so I believe it. Am I the only one who hadn't heard this yet, or isn't it the least bit
exciting to anyone else???

On Fri, 15 Oct 2004 14:58:28 -0400, Steve
wrote:

It does sound exciting but I'm sitting here thinking "what's the
catch?". ;-)
What does it mean when it says "Thailand agreed to maintain strict trade
control on eight endangered orchid genera." ?
Are these rules for the whole CITES world or just Thailand? What 8
genera are they talking about?

Steve


Reka wrote:
Okay, now I read it on the CITES site, so I believe it. Am I the only one who hadn't heard this yet, or isn't it the least bit
exciting to anyone else???

The fact that this group agrees does not mean that inspectors
will get the word. Or that things will happen tomorrow. This is
still a trade treaty and I am sure changes have to be ratified to
take effect, at least here.

It could be big or it could be smoke. Lets wait and see.
SuE
http://orchids.legolas.org/gallery/albums.php

Well, it's interesting, but don't put too much faith in it
knocking down all the walls.

CITES as we knew it last month:

Importer: "This is a cattleya."
Inspector: "It's clearly a paphiopedilum. I don't care what the label
says. It's confiscated as it is listed on CITES Appendix I, and you do not
have permits for that sort of thing."

CITES as we may know it in coming months:

Importer: "This is a paphiopedilum hybrid."
Inspector: "Looks like a species to me. I don't care what the label says.
It's confiscated as paph species are listed on CITES Appendix I, and you
do not have permits for that sort of thing."

Maybe I'm stupid and overlooking something, but although this may
benefit those that would like to import large quantities of orchid
hybrids, it's not going to do much for smaller growers or importers.
Large, established growers who export huge cartons of orchids may be able
to receive exemption when they move a hundred thousand phals or
intergenetics or (gasp!) paph hybrids, but it'd probably be much tougher
for someone who imports 100 plants twice a year.

As such, it would seem to be an exemption for large growers, and
business-as-usual for everyone else.

Plus, it's up to the individual signatory nations to *interpret*
those changes. The United States might view those rules as being very
different from the way other countries- and individuals- view them.

The e-mail address in the header isn't valid. Send no mail there.

Cheers,

-AJHicks
Chandler, AZ

Well, it's interesting, but don't put too much faith in it
knocking down all the walls.

CITES as we knew it last month:

Importer: "This is a cattleya."
Inspector: "It's clearly a paphiopedilum. I don't care what the label
says. It's confiscated as it is listed on CITES Appendix I, and you do not
have permits for that sort of thing."

CITES as we may know it in coming months:

Importer: "This is a paphiopedilum hybrid."
Inspector: "Looks like a species to me. I don't care what the label says.
It's confiscated as paph species are listed on CITES Appendix I, and you
do not have permits for that sort of thing."

Maybe I'm stupid and overlooking something, but although this may
benefit those that would like to import large quantities of orchid
hybrids, it's not going to do much for smaller growers or importers.
Large, established growers who export huge cartons of orchids may be able
to receive exemption when they move a hundred thousand phals or
intergenetics or (gasp!) paph hybrids, but it'd probably be much tougher
for someone who imports 100 plants twice a year.

As such, it would seem to be an exemption for large growers, and
business-as-usual for everyone else.

Plus, it's up to the individual signatory nations to *interpret*
those changes. The United States might view those rules as being very
different from the way other countries- and individuals- view them.

The e-mail address in the header isn't valid. Send no mail there.

Cheers,

-AJHicks
Chandler, AZ

I don't know about other flasking sources; however, this is why we don't
export flasks to even Canada nor do we purchase directly from other countries
So it is best to buy local/U. S. and forget the hassel. CITES seems to help
in creating scarcity of certain genus and in so doing just drives up the
prices. All one has to do is look to Paph. sanderianum and listings for them
on EBAY.

.. . . Pam
Everything Orchid Management System http://www.pe.net/~profpam/page3.html

----------------------------------------------------------------


Aaron Hicks wrote:

Well, it's interesting, but don't put too much faith in it
knocking down all the walls.

CITES as we knew it last month:

Importer: "This is a cattleya."
Inspector: "It's clearly a paphiopedilum. I don't care what the label
says. It's confiscated as it is listed on CITES Appendix I, and you do not
have permits for that sort of thing."

CITES as we may know it in coming months:

Importer: "This is a paphiopedilum hybrid."
Inspector: "Looks like a species to me. I don't care what the label says.
It's confiscated as paph species are listed on CITES Appendix I, and you
do not have permits for that sort of thing."

Maybe I'm stupid and overlooking something, but although this may
benefit those that would like to import large quantities of orchid
hybrids, it's not going to do much for smaller growers or importers.
Large, established growers who export huge cartons of orchids may be able
to receive exemption when they move a hundred thousand phals or
intergenetics or (gasp!) paph hybrids, but it'd probably be much tougher
for someone who imports 100 plants twice a year.

As such, it would seem to be an exemption for large growers, and
business-as-usual for everyone else.

Plus, it's up to the individual signatory nations to *interpret*
those changes. The United States might view those rules as being very
different from the way other countries- and individuals- view them.

The e-mail address in the header isn't valid. Send no mail there.

Cheers,

-AJHicks
Chandler, AZ