Introductory text

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^f1, and in particular Article 19(4) thereof,

Whereas:

The purpose of Commission Regulation (EC) No 865/2006^f2 is to implement Regulation (EC) No 338/97 and to ensure full compliance with the provisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) (‘the Convention’).

At the seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, certain changes to CITES Resolution Conf. 11.20 (Rev. CoP17) relating to the trade in live elephants and rhinoceroses were agreed. At the same meeting, the list of standard references for nomenclature annexed to CITES Resolution Conf. 12.11 (Rev. CoP17), which is to be used to indicate scientific names of species in permits and certificates, was restructured and updated.

At its 67th meeting, the Standing Committee of the Convention adopted revised guidelines for the submission of annual reports. The guidelines comprise revised codes that are to be included in the description of specimens and units of measure that are to be used in permits and certificates.

The changes to CITES Resolutions Conf. 11.20 and Conf. 12.11 and the revised codes and units of measure need to be reflected in Regulation (EC) No 865/2006.

Therefore, Regulation (EC) No 865/2006 should be amended accordingly.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee on Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: