June 18, 2004

Subject: Lifting of Trade Restrictions on CITES-Listed Wildlife from the Central African Republic

Background: On April 30, 2004, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service received notice from the CITES Secretariat that the Central African Republic failed to provide adequate justification, to provide annual reports for three consecutive years.

Upon receipt of this information, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service implemented a trade ban on CITES species with Central African Republic effective April 30, 2004.

On June 14, 2004 the CITES Secretariat received from the Central African Republic copies of CITES permits that had been issued during the years 2000, 2001, 2002. These documents will be compiled into the annual report which means that the Central African Republic has satisfactorily met the reporting requirements.

Action: Effective immediately, the trade ban on CITES species has been lifted. The United States will allow the import, export, and the re-export of CITES species with the Central African Republic. This bulletin rescinds the bulletin dated May 4, 2004.

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