Protection of wild fauna and flora: control of trade of species

The Commission modified its proposal to take account of a number of amendments by Parliament: - it re-examined the criteria for the inclusion of species covered by existing Community law on the conservation of wild flora and fauna, hence the sizeable reduction in the number of species listed in Annexes A and B; - similarly, to avoid duplication and ensure transparency in Community law, it proposed withdrawing a number of rules setting common standards for imports of whales and cetacean products and amending the previously amended wild birds and habitats directives; - it deleted the provisions which required Member States to list indigenous species under threat in an Annex E and, in addition, introduced an article allowing Member States to adopt stricter national rules in regard to the ban on possession of specimens of these species; - it simplified the provisions on the various methods of introducing such species into the Community, exports and re-exports from the Community, possession and trading within the Community, and derogations. Parliament's other amendments were not upheld, notably those on penalties, Parliament's participation in the committee procedure, or tropical essences.�