RIYADH, 22 July 2005 — Customs and airlines officials working at the international airports were told to adhere strictly to the regulations of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) while screening passengers coming in and going out of the Kingdom.
The Secretary-General of the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development (NCWCD), Dr. Abdul Aziz Abuzinada, appealed to the participants of a workshop on “National Regulations on CITES” to contribute to the survival of the endangered species found in and outside the Kingdom by strictly enforcing the local regulations.
The three-day workshop, held at the Four Seasons Hotel, was organized by the National Resources Training Center of the NCWCD. Participants included officials from the Saudi Customs, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Ministry of Agriculture and NCWCD.
Dr. Abuzinada said CITES is an international agreement among governments to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
He pointed out that the signatories to CITES. which includes the Kingdom since 1996, now covers 164 countries. He said animals, birds and their products should not be allowed to be taken out of the Kingdom without a CITES license issued by the NCWCD.
“Many species of wildlife in trade are not endangered, but the existence of an agreement to ensure the sustainability of the trade is important to safeguard these resources for the future,” he said.
