Milivoje KrvavacInstitute for Nature Conservation of Serbia
Zlata PavlovicProvincial Secretariat for Environmental Protection
(CITES focal point) Group for CITES implementation
Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection
BRIEF OVERVIEW OF CITES IMPLEMENTATION IN SERBIA
•Republic of Serbia•Population (2011): 9.024.734•Teritory: 88,361 km2
•GDP per capita: 10,830 USD• CITES ratification: 2001•CITES MA : Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection
• Management Authority: Ministry of Agriculture and Environment Protection – Group for CITES implementation (currently only 2 people employed)
• Scientific Authorities : ZZPS, PZZP, Biol. Fakultet, Prirodnjački muzej, IBIS• Enfrocement authorities (with direct or indirect CITES enforcement
competences): Republic and Provintial Environmental Inspectorate, Customs, Border Police, Criminal Investigation Police, Border Veterinary and Phytosanitary Inspection
NATIONAL CITES AUTHORITIES IN SERBIA
Harmonization of national legislation with respect to wildlife trade – Serbia on
the road to EU
The control regime with respect to transboundary movement and trade in protected species in Serbia is more strict than that prescribed by the CITES Convention.
In line with the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations, Serbia has harmonized most of its national legislation with the EU WTR provisions and species lists, including establishing internal possession and trade control.
Even though the national legislation has in large part been harmonized, certain parts of the national legislation need revision (especially regarding sanctioning offences and regulating the zero year for specimen possession.
Articles from Criminal Code used in sanctioning wildlife crime
Art. 243 – Illegal trade
Art. 265 – Destruction, damage, import/export of protected species
Art. 269- Killing and torturing animals
Art. 276 – Illegal huntingArt. 346- Organizing for the purpose of committing
criminal activities
Any Law, as well as an international agreement, is worth only as much
as it’s practical implementation
Illegal trade with protected species, their parts and derivatives is
among the top 5 illegal activities on the global level with respect to
illegal revenue, right after illegal trade in narcotics and weapons
Border and Criminal Police
Group for CITESimplementation
Customs
NCBINTERPOL
in Serbia
Border Vet and PhytoInspection
ZOOLOGICAL GARDENSRESCUE CENTERS
ProsecutorsCITES Scientific
Autorities
CITES in Serbia : Internal cooperation
EnvironmentalInspectors
Courts: (Administrative,Criminal
Apeals)
International cooperation
•Serbian CITES focal point has been participating in the EU Enforcement Group meetings from late 2011•Serbian CITES MA and enforcement have EUTWIX access, as wellas CIRCA ABC (CITES fp)
September 2010. "Nikola Tesla" airport, BelgradeSmuggling 22 specimens of toucans and aracari from UAE.
2010
December 2012. 1327 specimens of Emys orbicularis.Non CITES but strictly protected in Serbia - smuggler escaped
2012
June 2012. 126 specimens CITES II. Presevo, border with Kosovo province.Testudo graecaTestudo marginata
April 2012. shipment of 50 specimens of herpetofauna in personal suitcase...CITES and non CITES species - 11 poisonus.
October 2012. border with Hungary. 6 Makak (Macaca sylvanus) monkey. Private car.
2012
November 2012. Nikola Tesla Airport
2 specimens of Panthera pardus. CITES I
• November 2012, Belgrade. 28 snake species (all poisonous - 25 deadly)
2012
Hungarian border, 30.06.2012 – 250 parots (CITES II i non-CITES),
• Hungarian border: Horgoš, 11.08.2012 – 11 parrots juvenile (CITES II) hidden in bags.
• Belgrade, 28.06.2012 – 2 parrots Amazona leucocephala (CITES I)
Hungarian border:
Horgoš,
12.07.2012 –
Ara hybrid (CITES
II), Nemačku
without CITES
allowance
2013
Bački Petrovac 06.03.2014: Primolius maraca (CITES I)
Carina: Beograd 20.03.2014: Phyton skin bag (CITES II )
2014
24.03.2014 Three brown bear juveniles (CITES II )
Challenges for sucessful CITES implementation in Serbia
• Small number of cases of smuggling is discovered: success depends largely on the level of awareness, training and alertness of the enforcement officers
• Sanctions are often not sufficiently stringent to deter illegal widlife trade and smuggling attempts as judges (and often prosecutors) are not aware enough of the adverse effects of these illegal activities
• Certain legislative gaps with regards to sanctions further impede adequate sanctioning and CITES enforcement
• Processes with illegal wildlife trade sanctioning take too long, which is a problem especially with live specimens
• Seizing and confiscating live animals presents a special challange from both financial and infrastructural aspects
• Serious understaffing – for both administrative and enforcement presents a huge problem, as well as providing adequate state funding for CITES implementation
Project: SR/2012/IB/EN/01TWL CITES Enforcement trainings
7 workshops for border control officers (covering all borders)2 workshops for judges and proescutors1 training for trainers1 workshop for internal controls1 workshop for live animal confiscations1 study visit
Project developed by: SERBIAN CITES MAProject financed by: EU (~250,000 EUR)Project duration: 6 months More than 500 different people trained in CITESCustoms, Border police, Criminal Investigation Police, Env. Inspectors, Prosecutors, Judges, Vets, Zoos
Serbian CITES MA conducts trainings in cooperation with national and foreign experts with many years of CITES
theoretical and practical experience
