Exotic Bird Record Keeping Scheme

Summarymmary

In the beginning…..

• Illegal trade increased since the closure of NEBRS?

• Promoting confidence in the legal trade of exotic birds

• EPBC Act: documentation to verify the origin of specimens

EPBC Act

• Provisions in WP Act moved to EPBC Act reverse onus

• Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), it is your responsibility to be able to prove that any exotic bird you hold is legal.

EBAG

2006: Exotic Birdkeepers Advisory Group (EBAG) established Address lack of record keeping since NEBRS Develop simple and practical scheme

29 May 2007: advice to DEWHA Recommendation of record keeping scheme

Schemes Objectives

1. Reduce the risk of bird keepers acquiring illegally imported birds

2. Reduce the risk of captive birds contracting exotic diseases spread by illegal wildlife trade

3. Protect Australia’s native wildlife from introduced pests and diseases

Background

Announced 11 October 2007

Implemented 7 December 2007

Widely communicated

The Scheme• Inventory

– NEBRS registered specimens– Classes 1, 2 & 3

• MTRs• Activity Records• Guides

– Record keeping/documentation– Individual identification– Compliance

Participation• High Interest packs: total 450

– 409 individuals– 20 Pet shops, 1 vet, & 2 clubs– 18 breeders/zoos

• Low Interest packs: total 330 – 307 individuals– 9 clubs, 14 others

• 898 calls to 1800 number• 9694 postcards, 189 posters

Issues with forms

• Interstate transactions (signatures)

• No details about origin of birds on ARs

• Use of additional page MTR forms

• Address details of both buyer and seller

• Source of birds

• Wrong colour form sent in

• Difficulty in adding up birds on AR

Evaluation EBAG recommendations:

1st stage - encouraging Participation = no regulation

Policy approach for 12 months Evaluation after 1st 12 months

Demonstrating willingness to participate in self-regulating scheme