COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2473/98 of 16 November 1998 suspending the introduction into the Community of specimens of certain species of wild fauna and flora

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

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 (1), as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2214/98 (2), and in particular Article 19, point 2, thereof,

After consulting the Scientific Review Group,

Whereas Article 4(6) of Regulation (EC) No 338/97 provides for the establishment by the Commission of general restrictions, or restrictions relating to certain countries of origin, on the introduction into the Community of specimens of species listed in its Annexes A and B thereto and lays down the criteria for such restrictions;

Whereas the list of such restrictions has been established with Commission Regulation (EC) No 2551/97 (3); whereas this list now needs to be revised and, in view of the second paragraph of Article 4(6) of Regulation (EC) No 338/97, republished in full;

Whereas the countries of origin of the species subject to these restrictions were consulted;

Whereas Article 41 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 939/97 (4), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1006/98 (5), contains provisions for the implementation by the Member States of the restrictions established by the Commission;

Whereas 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:

Article 1

Subject to the provisions of Article 41 of Regulation (EC) No 939/97, the introduction into the Community of the specimens of the species of wild fauna and flora mentioned in the Annex to this Regulation is hereby suspended.

Article 2

Regulation (EC) No 2551/97 is hereby repealed.

Article 3

This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 16 November 1998.

For the Commission

Ritt BJERREGAARD

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 61, 3. 3. 1997, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 279, 16. 10. 1998, p. 3.

(3) OJ L 349, 19. 12. 1997, p. 4.

(4) OJ L 140, 30. 5. 1997, p. 9.

(5) OJ L 145, 15. 5. 1998, p. 3.

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