Council Regulation (EEC) No 1422/87 of 21 May 1987 amending Regulation (EEC) No 3626/82 on the implementation in the Community of the Convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora

COUNCIL  REGULATION (EEC) No 1422/87
of 21 May 1987
amending Regulation (EEC) No 3626/82 on the implementation in the Community of the Convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 235 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3),
Whereas the inclusion of all species of birdwing butterflies in part 1 of Annex C to Council Regulation (EEC) No 3626/82 of 3 December 1982 on the implementation in the Community of the Convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora (4), as last amended by Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2384/85 (5), means that imports of specimens of these species into the Community are prohibited if they are primarily for commercial purposes;
Whereas ranching operations involving birdwing butterflies are generally considered beneficial to the conservation of these species by contributing to the increase of their population in the wild;
Whereas the success of such ranching operations in developing countries depends heavily on the availability of commercial outlets for their products; whereas, however, this argument cannot be used to justify a general down-listing of species from part 1 to part 2 of Annex C to the aforementioned Regulation;
Whereas it is therefore necessary to allow imports of ranched specimens of birdwing butterflies; whereas their transfer from part 1 to part 2 of the said Annex C opens that possibility whilst maintaining adequate safeguards for the prevention of imports of specimens of endangered species and populations of birdwing butterflies;
Whereas the most endangered species of birdwing butterfly, Ornithoptera alexandrae, requires the strictest possible protection and should therefore remain in part 1 of the said Annex C,