[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 83 (Wednesday, April 30, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23479-23480]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-11092]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Termination of the Pelly Amendment Certification of Taiwan

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of the Interior has determined that the reasons 
for the certification of Taiwan, under the Pelly Amendment to the 
Fisherman's Protective Act, for actions undermining the effectiveness 
of an international program for endangered or threatened species, no 
longer prevail. Therefore, the certification of Taiwan has been 
terminated.

DATES: This notice is effective on April 30, 1997, and will be 
effective until further notice.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Management 
Authority, 1849 C Street, N.W. (MS 430 ARLSQ), Washington, D.C. 20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Susan Lieberman, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Office of Management Authority, 703-358-2095.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Pelly Amendment to the Fisherman's 
Protective Act of 1978, the Secretary of Interior is responsible for 
determining if nationals of a foreign country, directly or indirectly, 
are engaging in trade or taking which diminishes the effectiveness of 
any international program for endangered or threatened species. If the 
Secretary so determines, the Secretary shall certify such fact to the 
President. On September 7, 1993, Secretary Bruce Babbitt certified to 
President Clinton that nationals of Taiwan were diminishing the 
effectiveness of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered 
Species (CITES) by trading in rhinoceros and tiger parts and products. 
He based his determination on the following: (1) The failure of Taiwan 
to end its participation in rhinoceros horn trade despite a June 1992 
resolution of the

[[Page 23480]]

CITES Standing Committee calling upon Taiwan to end such trade or face 
the possibility of CITES calls for trade sanctions; (2) evidence 
contained in a 1992 petition from both the World Wildlife Fund and 
National Wildlife Federation asking Secretary Babbitt to certify Taiwan 
for its involvement in rhinoceros horn trade; (3) public comment 
received as a result of a Federal Register notice and public meeting in 
December 1992 and January 1993, respectively, providing evidence to 
support including trade in tiger bone in the contemplated Pelly 
certification; (4) a decision in March 1993 by the 29th Meeting of the 
CITES Standing Committee to censure the continued involvement of Taiwan 
and three consuming countries in the rhinoceros horn and tiger bone 
trades, and encouragement by the Standing Committee for CITES party 
countries to use appropriate stricter domestic measures against Taiwan 
and the three consuming countries; and finally (5) the failure of 
Taiwan to demonstrate to Secretary Babbitt at his request in June 1993 
that Pelly certification was not warranted. After careful consideration 
of the facts, on April 11, 1994, President Clinton decided to impose 
trade sanctions generally prohibiting all wildlife imports from Taiwan. 
On August 2, 1994, President Clinton directed the Secretary of the 
Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, to 
prohibit the importation of fish or wildlife, as defined in 16 U.S.C. 
3371 and 50 CFR 10.12, and their parts and products of Taiwan, to which 
the import declaration requirements in 50 CFR 14.61 would apply. On 
June 29, 1995, after the authorities on Taiwan had demonstrated 
sufficient improvement, the President revoked those sanctions.
    After making a Pelly certification to the President, the Secretary 
is required to conduct periodic reviews to determine whether the 
reasons for the certification still prevail, and if they no longer 
prevail, the Secretary is required to terminate the certification. 
During the period since trade sanctions were revoked in June 1995, the 
authorities on Taiwan have: (1) passed amendments and regulations to 
the Taiwan Wildlife Conservation Law establishing more severe penalties 
for illegal trade in endangered species; (2) significantly improved 
wildlife smuggling interdiction efforts through enhanced law 
enforcement training, infrastructure, and forensic capabilities; and 
(3) decreased market availability on Taiwan of products containing 
rhinoceros and tiger parts. Given that the reasons for certification of 
Taiwan no longer prevail, the Secretary has terminated the 
certification of Taiwan under the Pelly Amendment to the Fisherman's 
Protective Act of 1967 (22 U.S.C. 1978).

    Dated: December 23, 1996.
Donald J. Barry,
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 97-11092 Filed 4-29-97; 8:45 am]
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