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September 29, 2005
Subject:
Trade
in Beluga Sturgeon (Huso huso) Caviar and Meat Suspended
from Caspian Sea Basin Countries
Background: On April 21, 2004,
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the listing of beluga
sturgeon (Huso huso) as threatened under the Endangered
Species Act (ESA). On March 4, 2005, the Service issued a special
rule (Federal Register Vol. 70, No. 42 10493-10507) for beluga sturgeon
that outlined requirements for the conservation of the species as
provided for by section 4(d) of the ESA.
The special rule indicated that
each Caspian Sea basin country wishing to export beluga caviar
or beluga meat to the United States without a threatened species
permit must submit basin-wide cooperative management plans and national
legislation and regulations that implement these basin-wide management
plans by September 6, 2005. The rule states that the Service will immediately
suspend trade with all countries in a basin or with a given country if
the countries fail to submit this required information.
The Service announced that it has suspended the import of, and foreign
commerce in, beluga sturgeon (Huso huso) caviar or meat originating
in the Caspian Sea basin countries of Azerbaijan, the Islamic Republic
of Iran, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, and Turkmenistan because
the required information was not submitted. This suspension applies
to shipments that have been exported directly from these countries, re-exported
through an intermediary country, or transported as personal or household
effects. It also prohibits foreign commerce.
The Service is currently
reviewing information received from countries in the Black Sea
basin.
Action: Effective September 30 th, the Service
will refuse clearance on imports of beluga sturgeon caviar (including
products containing caviar such as cosmetics) or meat originating
from Azerbaijan, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Kazakhstan, the Russian
Federation, or Turkmenistan that were shipped on or after September 30
th without a threatened species import permit.
Affected imports include
caviar or meat shipped directly from these countries, re-exported
from an intermediary country, or transported as personal or household
effects. Foreign commerce, including re-export, in beluga sturgeon
caviar or meat originating from the Caspian Sea basin on or after September
30th is also prohibited.
Interstate commerce of beluga caviar or meat
legally imported prior to the suspension will continue to be
authorized under the special rule. Because of the perishable nature
of sturgeon caviar and meat, interstate commerce must be completed within
18 months from the issuance date of the original CITES export permit.
In accordance with the special rule, trade may continue from
the countries of the Black Sea basin that have declared 2005 export
quotas for beluga sturgeon (Bulgaria, Romania, and Serbia and Montenegro),
as required under CITES, while the Service reviews the submitted information.
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