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Title:
Criminal proceedings against Xavier Tridon
Party:
European Union
Region:
Europe
Europe
Type of document:
International court
Date of text:
October 23, 2001
Data source:
InforMEA
Court name:
European Court of Justice
Seat of court:
Luxembourg
Justice(s):
Macken, F.
Colneric, N.
Gulmann, C.
Puissochet, J.-P.
Schintgen, R.
Reference number:
Case C-510/99
ECOLEX subject(s):
Wild species & ecosystems
Abstract:
The Regional Court, Grenoble, referred to the European Court for a preliminary ruling under Article 234 EC two questions on the interpretation of Articles 30 and 36 of the EC Treaty (see now Articles 28 and 30) and Council Regulation EEC No. 3626/82 of 3 December 1982 on the Implementation in the Community of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) by regulating trade therein. The questions were raised in criminal proceedings against Mr. Tridon who was charged with selling captive-born and bred specimens of macaw whose use for commercial purposes was prohibited in Guyane (France). The French Government submitted that no system of controls (other than an outright ban) would discourage fraudulent practices of passing off eggs or birds taken in the wild as those laid in captivity. The Commission submitted that the absolute prohibition of trade in specimens of species in Appendix II to CITES or Annex B to Regulation no. 338/97 with respect to captive-born and bred specimens, went beyond measures necessary to ensure the effective protection of those species, and constituted a barrier to trade. The court held that the Council Regulation EEC 3626/82 had to be interpreted as not precluding the legislation of a Member State laying down general prohibition in its territory of all commercial use of captive-born and bred specimens. Further Regulation 3626/82 did not prohibit the commercial use of those species apart from cases where the specimens had been introduced contrary to Article 5 of that regulation.