Thailand faces trade sanction if it fails to crack down on illegal ivory trade

BANGKOK, Sept 20 (TNA) - Thailand may face an imminent trade sanction from member countries of the Convention on International Trade on Endangered Species (CITES) if it fails to deal with the problem of illegal ivory trade effectively by March 2015. The deadline has been set that Thailand must strictly improve its implementation plan within the first quarter of 2015, otherwise it could face high risks of ban on CITES goods trading, said Chutima Bunyapraphasara permanent secretary for Commerce. During the recent meeting of the executive committee of CITES, Thailand was instructed to amend the National Ivory Action Plan, adopted Plan and to submit to the secretary-general’s office of CITES by this September 30 and to report on the progress of the implementation to the Office by next January 15 and March 31. She said if evaluation to be submitted is still not satisfied, CITES could impose the ban on Thailand. Thailand has been ranked on the ‘Primary Concern’ list for several years in the past. (TNA)