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1. The introduction into the Community of specimens of the species listed in Annex A shall be subject to completion of the necessary checks and the prior presentation, at the border customs office at the point of introduction, of an import permit issued by a management authority of the Member State of destination. The import permit may be issued only in accordance with the restrictions established pursuant to paragraph 6 and when the following conditions have been met:

(a) the competent scientific authority, after considering any opinion by the Scientific Review Group, has advised that the introduction into the Community:

(i) would not have a harmful effect on the conservation status of the species or on the extent of the territory occupied by the relevant population of the species;

(ii) is taking place:

— for one of the purposes referred to in Article 8(3)(e), (f) and (g), or — for other purposes which are not detrimental to the survival of the species concerned;

(b) (i) the applicant provides documentary evidence that the specimens have been obtained in accordance with the legislation on the protection of the species concerned which, in the case of import from a third country of specimens of a species listed in the Appendices to the Convention, shall be an export permit or re-export certificate, or copy thereof, issued in accordance with the Convention by a competent authority of the country of export or re-export;

(ii) however, the issuance of import permits for species listed in Annex A in accordance with Article 3(1)(a) shall not require such documentary evidence, but the original of any such import permit shall be withheld from the applicant pending presentation of the export permit or re-export certificate;

(c) the competent scientific authority is satisfied that the intended accommodation for a live specimen at the place of destination is adequately equipped to conserve and care for it properly;

(d) the management authority is satisfied that the specimen is not to be used for primarily commercial purposes;

(e) the management authority is satisfied, following consultation with the competent scientific authority, that there are no other factors relating to the conservation of the species which militate against issuance of the import permit; and (f) in the case of introduction from the sea, the management authority is satisfied that any live specimen will be so prepared and shipped as to minimize the risk of injury, damage to health or cruel treatment.

2. The introduction into the Community of specimens of the species listed in Annex B shall be subject to completion of the necessary checks and the prior presentation, at the border customs office at the point of introduction, of an import permit issued by a management authority of the Member State of destination. The import permit may be issued only in accordance with the restrictions established pursuant to paragraph 6 and when:

(a) the competent scientific authority, after examining available data and considering any opinion from the Scientific Review Group, is of the opinion that the introduction into the Community would not have a harmful effect on the conservation status of the species or on the extent of the territory occupied by the relevant population of the species, taking account of the current or anticipated level of trade. This opinion shall be valid for subsequent imports as long as the abovementioned aspects have not changed significantly;

(b) the applicant provides documentary evidence that the intended accommodation for a live specimen at the place of destination is adequately equipped to conserve and care for it properly;

(c) the conditions referred to in paragraph 1(b)(i), (e) and (f) have been met.

3. The introduction into the Community of specimens of the species listed in Annex C shall be subject to completion of the necessary checks and the prior presentation, at the border customs office at the point of introduction, of an import notification and:

(a) in the case of export from a country mentioned in relation to the species concerned in Annex C, the applicant shall provide documentary evidence, by means of an export permit issued in accordance with the Convention by an authority of that country competent for the purpose, that the specimens have been obtained in accordance with the national legislation on the conservation of the species concerned; or (b) in the case of export from a country not mentioned in relation to the species concerned in Annex C or re-export from any country, the applicant shall present an export permit, a re-export certificate or a certificate of origin issued in accordance with the Convention by an authority of the exporting or re-exporting country competent for the purpose.

4. The introduction into the Community of specimens of the species listed in Annex D shall be subject to completion of the necessary checks and the prior presentation of an import notification at the border customs office at the point of introduction.

5. The conditions for the issuance of an import permit as referred to in paragraph 1(a) and (d) and in paragraph 2(a), (b) and (c) shall not apply to specimens for which the applicant provides documentary evidence:

(a) that they had previously been legally introduced into or acquired in the Community and that they are, modified or not, being reintroduced into the Community; or (b) that they are worked specimens that were acquired more than 50 years previously.

6. In consultation with the countries of origin concerned, in accordance with the regulatory procedure referred to in Article 18(2) and taking account of any opinion from the Scientific Review Group, the Commission may establish general restrictions, or restrictions relating to certain countries of origin, on the introduction into the Community:

(a) on the basis of the conditions referred to in paragraph 1(a)(i) or (e), of specimens of species listed in Annex A;

(b) on the basis of the conditions referred to in paragraph 1(e) or paragraph 2(a), of specimens of species listed in Annex B; and (c) of live specimens of species listed in Annex B which have a high mortality rate during shipment or for which it has been established that they are unlikely to survive in captivity for a considerable proportion of their potential life span; or (d) of live specimens of species for which it has been established that their introduction into the natural environment of the Community presents an ecological threat to wild species of fauna and flora indigenous to the Community.

The Commission shall on a quarterly basis publish a list of such restrictions, if any, in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

7. Where special cases of transhipment, air transfer or rail transport occur following introduction into the Community, derogations from completion of the checks and presentations of import documents at the border customs office at the point of introduction which are referred to in paragraphs 1 to 4 shall be granted by the Commission in order to permit such checks and presentations to be made at another customs office designated in accordance with Article 12(1). Those measures, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Regulation, by supplementing it, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 18(3).