How are EU import restrictions formed?
Import restrictions are formed on the basis of opinions of the EU Scientific Review Group (SRG) or following the implementation of taxon-specific CITES trade suspensions. The SRG is made up of representatives of CITES Scientific Authorities within the EU Member States, and its remit is to examine scientific questions relating to the application of the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations. The SRG may form a ‘positive opinion’ or a ‘negative opinion’ where it has examined whether imports of a particular species from a particular country comply with the conservation requirements of the Regulation or not, these are generally defined as: Negative opinion: The species is in trade or is likely to be in trade, and introduction to the Community from the country of origin at current or anticipated levels of trade is likely to have a harmful effect on the conservation status of the species or the extent of the territory occupied by the species. Positive opinion: The species is in trade, or is likely to
