Pelly Amendment to the Fishermen's Protective Act; Request for Certification of the People's Republic of China and Taiwan; Conservation of Endangered Species Subject to Illegal International Trade

Resumo

On November 8, 1993, the Department of the Interior received a ``petition'' to certify the People's Republic of China and Taiwan under the Pelly Amendment to the Fishermen's Protective Act for undermining the effectiveness of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES, or the Convention). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is the agency responsible for the implementation of CITES in the United States. The request alleged unlawful international trade by nationals of the People's Republic of China and Taiwan, in the following species: Asiatic black bears, Asian brown bears, Malayan sun bears, sloth bears, clouded leopards, leopards, snow leopards, gibbons, and orangutans. The People's Republic of China and Taiwan were previously certified by the Secretary of the Interior under the Pelly Amendment on September 7, 1993 for undermining the effectiveness of CITES for trade in rhinoceros and tiger parts and products. This notice requests comments and information from the public on the following: the international trade in Asiatic black bears, Asian brown bears, Malayan sun bears, sloth bears, clouded leopards, leopards, snow leopar