And while the Minister with responsibility for Forestry doesn't feel there will be any international fallout for ignoring CITES requirements, the person designated as the CITES Scientific Authority for Belize says that in all cases, the Forestry Department needs to give the approval for the importation of plants listed in the CITES three appendix. Three of the types of plants imported by Diany Chan were cites species, they are the Madagascar Palm, the Crown of Thorns, the Cyclamen and an invasive species known as Palo de Brasil.
She made no importation importation application nor did she receive a permit for these plants - and that's why the shipment was deemed to be illegal.
On Tuesday, the person designated as the CITES Scientific Authority for Belize explained that issuing permits for all CITEs listed plants is the sole authority of the Forestry Department, not BAHA:
Dr. Elma Kay - Scientific Authority for Belize, CITES
"And then appendix 3 species are the ones that are at least risk and for those it's entirely up to the forest department to issue, you know to issue the permits for import/export for those species. Bringing in a CITES species doesn't negate or doesn't eliminate the need for all other permits that are needed by law. For example, permits issued by BAHA, regarding other issues. But, they require this extra level which is a CITES import or export permit that the Forest Department would issue.
Jules Vasquez
"Let's say the exporter from Mexico in this case has a CITES certificate saying that you know, that these plants were cultivated for a specific purpose and in a specific manner, you still need the forestry department to say, yes..."
Dr. Elma Kay
"Top approve their import."
Jules Vasquez
"You still need that?"
Dr. Elma Kay
"Yes, the forest department would have to check that the species are being imported with their correct documentation. So, in this case, it was Mexico's responsibility to provide the buyer with the approved permits for those species and then it's the forests department's responsibility to cross check that documentation and then allow their import into Belize. So, the responsible thing for anyone to do is always seek information about the stuff they are bringing in, ensuring it is not under need of additional permits. I think this case really points out that we need broader education within the government and outside the government in terms of the convention and how it works."
Jules Vasquez
"But you know the forestry department had a meeting on February 20th, invited all these importers, including the one in question, invited all of them and they specifically explained to them what the requirements are."
Dr. Elma Kay
"If that happened then the importer would have been informed that, any plant or animal material and this should go for anyone bringing those things in country, it is important to do the homework and to follow the rules."
