Scientific Review Group
Regulation
338/97 establishes a Scientific Review Group (SRG) consisting
of representatives from the Member States' Scientific Authorities.
The role of the Scientific Review Group
is to examine any scientific question relating to the application
of the Regulations and it has been given specific tasks in
Article 4.1.a, 4.2.a and 4.6 of the Regulation. The Commission
conveys opinions of the Scientific Review Group to the Committee.
Where they relate to import controls they are also published
on the internet in a database managed for the Commission by the World Conservation Monitoring
Centre in Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Opinions of the Scientific Review Group
These may exist in cases where the SRG has
examined whether or not imports in particular circumstances
would comply with the conservation requirements of
Regulation 338/97. The SRG opinion may change rapidly if new
information about the trade or conservation status of a species
in a particular country of origin becomes available. The opinion
of the SRG will normally be followed by individual Scientific
Authorities. Scientific Authorities of Member States can give
a different opinion to that of the SRG e.g. in cases where
new information becomes available. In such case, the SRG will
discuss these opinions again. Where there is no SRG opinion,
the decision about whether or not the conservation requirements
of Regulation 338/97 are met will be taken by the Scientific
Authority of the Member State in question. Should they find
that the conditions are not met, this information will be
immediately relayed to the other Member States and a uniform
position will be adopted by all Member States.
The Scientific Review Group normally meets
three times a year in Brussels.
Meeting Agendas and Summaries
|