Uzbek customs officials improve skills in combating illegal trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora

International trade in wild animals, plants and their parts and various products is becoming an increasingly attractive source of income. Due to the illegal movement of animals and plants from country to country, many of the species have become endangered. Objects of trade are animals and their derivatives - skins, horns, skulls, claws, feathers, fangs, internal organs, caviar and etc., as well as plants and their parts - leaves, seeds, roots and  etc.

On 3 March 1973 a UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora was signed in Washington. There are currently 183 State Parties to the Convention including Uzbekistan. The purpose of the Convention is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species, and also eliminate illegal trade in wild animals and plants.

On 30-31 May, during the meeting with the EU experts officials of the State Customs Committee of Uzbekistan got familiarized with the forms and methods of international and interagency cooperation in the above-mentioned field, the legal regulations on protection of wild fauna and flora that are under a risk of extinction, risk management in the sphere of illegal trade in rare animals and plants. The meeting participant also focused on control of cargoes which may contain rare species of flora and fauna and further investigation of such crimes, as well as discussed possibilities for cooperation with non-governmental organizations, including business entities, travel agencies and mass media.

For more information on the event and the activity of BOMCA Programme, please visit www.bomca-eu.org, or contact Ms. Zulfiya Sibagatulina, BOMCA National Coordinator for Uzbekistan at zulfiya.sibagatulina@icmpd.org