IMPORTATION OF WILD BIRDS

Early day motion 643, tabled 2 February 2005 by Andrew George (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 57 members.

That this House is alarmed at evidence which shows that the commercial importation of wild birds is threatening the survival of hundreds of bird species in the wild, with at least 30 per cent. of the 140 parrot species in the Western Hemisphere threatened with extinction; notes that this trade involves unacceptable inhumane methods of capture and transit which result in the premature mortality of a large number of wild birds each years, and that Europe is the largest imported of wild birds, holding 80 per cent. of the global market; recognises that these practices could expose European birds to deadly infectious diseases, such as avian influenza which could harm Europe's multi-million pound poultry industry and that it could also transmit serious diseases to humans, including Salmonella and Clamidia psittaci; congratulates the campaign of bodies like the World Parrot Trust to stop this unacceptable trade; and therefore calls upon the Government to work with other EU Member States to end the commercial importation of wild birds.

Signatures by party: Labour 28, Liberal Democrat 18, Labour/Co-operative 4, Conservative 3, UUP 2, DUP 1, Plaid Cymru 1.