Exotic Bird Record Keeping Scheme Summary

1
Exotic Bird Record Keeping SchemeSummary


2
In the beginning..

• Illegal trade increased since the closure of
  NEBRS?
• Promoting confidence in the legal trade of exotic
  birds
• EPBC Act documentation to verify the origin of
  specimens

3
EPBC Act

• Provisions in WP Act moved to EPBC Act reverse
  onus
• Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity
  Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), it is your
  responsibility to be able to prove that any
  exotic bird you hold is legal.

4
EBAG

• 2006 Exotic Birdkeepers Advisory Group (EBAG)
  established
• Address lack of record keeping since NEBRS
• Develop simple and practical scheme
• 29 May 2007 advice to DEWHA
• Recommendation of record keeping scheme

5
Schemes Objectives

• Reduce the risk of bird keepers acquiring
  illegally imported birds
• Reduce the risk of captive birds contracting
  exotic diseases spread by illegal wildlife trade
• Protect Australias native wildlife from
  introduced pests and diseases

6
Background

• Announced 11 October 2007
• Implemented 7 December 2007
• Widely communicated

7
The Scheme

• Inventory
• NEBRS registered specimens
• Classes 1, 2 3
• MTRs
• Activity Records
• Guides
• Record keeping/documentation
• Individual identification
• Compliance

8
Participation

• High Interest packs total 450
• 409 individuals
• 20 Pet shops, 1 vet, 2 clubs
• 18 breeders/zoos

• Low Interest packs total 330
• 307 individuals
• 9 clubs, 14 others
• 898 calls to 1800 number
• 9694 postcards, 189 posters

9
Issues with forms

• Interstate transactions (signatures)
• No details about origin of birds on ARs
• Use of additional page MTR forms
• Address details of both buyer and seller
• Source of birds
• Wrong colour form sent in
• Difficulty in adding up birds on AR

10
Evaluation

• EBAG recommendations
• 1st stage - encouraging Participation no
  regulation
• Policy approach for 12 months
• Evaluation after 1st 12 months
• Demonstrating willingness to participate in
  self-regulating scheme