Press Release: Environment: Commission consults on how EU can fight against dramatic increase in wildlife trafficking

The European Commission on 7 February 2014 launched a public consultation on how the EU can be more effective in combating wildlife trafficking.

This comes in response to a recent global surge in poaching and illegal wildlife trade, which is now at unprecedented levels for some species. The EU is a major destination market and an important transit point for illegal wildlife products, with organized crime playing an increasing role.

Wildlife trafficking is the illegal cross-border trade in biological resources taken from the wild, including trade in timber and marine species.

Comments can be submitted at http://ec.europa.eu/yourvoice/ until 10 April 2014.

• Primary Source

European Commission: RAPID: Memo, MEMO/14/91: Questions and answers on wildlife trafficking http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-14-91_en.pdf

ESO: Background information: Communication From The Commission To The Council And The European Parliament on the EU Approach against Wildlife Trafficking http://www.europeansources.info/record/communication-from-the-commission-to-the-council-and-the-european-parliament-on-the-eu-approach-against-wildlife-trafficking/

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