EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
Amendment to the List of Specimens Taken to be Suitable for Live Import
in accordance with paragraph 303EC (1) (a)
(Issued under Authority of the Minister for the Environment and Heritage)
Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), a live specimen is allowed to be imported only if it is included on the list of specimens suitable for live import.
The list was established in accordance with s.303EB of the EPBC Act and has two parts.
Part 1 comprises species exempt from the need for an import permit under the EPBC Act. Part 2 comprises species that can be imported with a permit under the EPBC Act.
The effect of this instrument is to add Psittacus erithacus (African Grey Parrot), to Part 2 of the list of specimens suitable for live import.
Including this species in the list will allow its import into Australia for eligible non-commercial purposes only. The following conditions will be applicable for import: For eligible non-commercial purposes only; specimens and progeny must be micro-chipped and a DNA sample kept and provided to the Australian Government on request.
Amendments to the list of specimens suitable for live import can be made either on the initiative of the Minister or by application. This list amendment was initiated by an application from Ms Kerryn Loftus, under s.303EE of the EPBC Act.
In determining whether to amend the list of specimens suitable for live import to include P. erithacus, the Minister considered the outcomes of an assessment report prepared in accordance with s.303EF of the EPBC Act. Copies of the assessment report are available at the following website:
http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/trade-use/invitecomment/african-grey-parrot-congo.html
In accordance with s.303EF of the EPBC Act, the assessment report was published on the Department of the Environment and Heritage website and comments sought. Two public comments were received supporting the proposed amendment to the live import list.
In accordance with s. 303EC (3) of the EPBC Act, appropriate state and territory ministers and departments for the environment, conservation and agriculture were invited to comment.
DEH received nine ministerial responses to this application. Three were supportive of the proposed amendment, three objected to the proposal while the remaining three responses did not object to the import of P. erithacus into Australia.
The Minister considers that with proposed conditions in place, the import of this species poses a low risk to the Australian environment.
This instrument is a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.
The instrument will take effect on the first day on which it is no longer liable to be disallowed.