EN Official Journal of the European Union L 169/1

COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) No 578/2013

of 17 June 2013

suspending the introduction into the Union of specimens of certain species of wild fauna and flora

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 of 9 December 1996 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein (1), and in particular Article 4(6) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Article 4(6) of Regulation (EC) No 338/97 provides that the Commission may establish restrictions to the introduction of certain species into the Union in accordance with the conditions laid down in points (a) to (d) thereof. Furthermore, implementing measures for such restrictions have been laid down in Article 71 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 865/2006 of 4 May 2006 laying down detailed rules concerning the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 of the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein (2).

(2) A list of species for which the introduction into the Union is suspended was last established in Commission Regulation (EU) No 757/2012 of 20 August 2012 suspending the introduction into the Union of specimens of certain species of wild fauna and flora (3).

(3) On the basis of recent information, the Scientific Review Group has concluded that the conservation status of certain additional species listed in Annexes A and B to Regulation (EC) No 338/97 will be seriously jeopardised if their introduction into the Union from certain countries of origin is not suspended. The introduction of the following new species should therefore be suspended: Hippopotamus amphibius from Cameroon and Mozambique; Cercopithecus dryas from the Democratic Republic of the Congo; Stephanoaetus coronatus and Torgos tracheliotus from Tanzania; Balearica pavonina from Sudan; Chamaeleo africanus from Niger; Heosemys annandalii and Heosemys grandis from Laos; Mantella pulchra from Madagascar; Tridacna crocea, Tridacna maxima and Tridacna squamosa from Cambodia; Nardostachys grandiflora from Nepal.

(4) The Scientific Review Group has also concluded that, on the basis of the most recent available information, the suspension of the introduction into the Union of the following species should no longer be required for: Canis lupus from Kyrgyzstan; Ateles geoffroyi and Brachypelma albopilosum from Nicaragua; Calumma brevicorne, Calumma gastrotaenia, Calumma nasutum, Calumma parsonii, Furcifer antimena, Furcifer campani and Furcifer minor from Madagascar; Cuora amboinensis, Cuora galbinifrons, Cycadaceae spp., Christensonia vietnamica, Stangeriaceae spp. and Zamiaceae spp. from Vietnam; Rauvolfia serpentina from Myanmar; Pterocarpus santalinus from India.

(5) The countries of origin of the species which are subject to new restrictions to introduction into the Union have all been consulted.

(6) The list of species for which the introduction into the Union is suspended should therefore be amended and Regulation (EU) No 757/2012 should, for reasons of clarity, be replaced.

(7) The Scientific Review Group established pursuant to Article 17 of Regulation (EC) No 338/97 has been consulted.

(8) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee on Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora established pursuant to Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 338/97,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The introduction into the Union of specimens of the species of wild fauna and flora listed in the Annex to this Regulation is suspended.

Article 2

Implementing Regulation (EU) No 757/2012 is repealed.

References to the repealed Regulation shall be construed as references to this Regulation.

Article 3

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Brussels, 17 June 2013. For the Commission The President José Manuel BARROSO

(1) OJ L 61, 3.3.1997, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 166, 19.6.2006, p. 1.

(3) OJ L 223, 21.8.2012, p. 31.