http://www.cites.org/common/com/AC/22/E22WG7.pdf
AC22 WG7 Doc. 1 – p. 1
AC22 WG7 Doc. 1
(English only/Únicamente en inglés/Seulement en anglais)
CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES
OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA
___________________
Twenty-second meeting of the Animals Committee
Lima (Peru), 7-13 July 2006
FOSSIL CORALS
Membership (as decided by the Committee)
a) Observers from Parties: Belgium, Mexico, the United Kingdom (Chairman), the United States of
America; and
b) The observer from the non-governmental organization Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association.
Mandate
1. Conclude the implementation of Decision 13.96 by analysing the responses from the Parties
presented in the Annex of document AC22 Doc. 19, reviewing Resolution Conf. 11.10 (Rev. CoP12)
if necessary, and ensuring timely reporting to the Secretariat so that it can fulfil Decision 13.97.
Recommendations
1. Recommends that the Secretariat summarize the responses received to Notification 2005/065 (from
China, Mexico, Switzerland, the United States of America and the European Community) on their
interpretation of the annotation exempting fossil corals from the provisions of the Convention (draft
attached).
2. The Secretariat makes these responses available to the Parties and to those involved in the trade in
corals through a Notification and through the CITES website so that they are aware of the approach
taken by the various Parties. Any further contributions submitted by Parties should be added to this
summary document.
3. No further action is considered necessary under Decisions 13.96-97 and, with the communication
suggested above, these decisions are considered discharged. No recommendation is made to amend
Resolution Conf. 11.10 (Rev. Cop12)
Rationale
No consensus on the interpretation of this annotation is likely and further attempts to achieve consensus
are unlikely to be productive. Whilst some minor improvements could be made to Resolution Conf. 11.10
(Rev. CoP12), these would be largely cosmetic and risk re-opening debate on this topic. Accordingly, it is
recommended that this Resolution is left unchanged.
AC22 WG7 Doc. 1 – p. 2
Summary of approaches taken by Parties
China: Fossil corals are remains of coral skeleton buried by natural process and subsequently permanently
preserved, has or has not undergone changes in appearance and does not fall under the definition of coral
fragments, coral rock or dead coral.
European Community: Fossils, namely all categories of coral rock, except live rock (meaning pieces of
coral rock to which are attached live specimens of invertebrate species and coralline algae not included in
the Appendices and which are transported moist, but not in water) are not subject to the provisions of
the Convention.
Mexico: no specific definition;
Switzerland: Fossils are all petrified corals that are as a rule enclosed or part of geological rock formations
(as e. g. in the chalk of the Jura mountain range in Switzerland).
United States of America: Fossil corals are part of limestone deposits with extinct species of corals and
other marine invertebrates. These rock deposits are from several thousand to 500 million years old.
Limestone can be cut and polished for jewelry and lapidary articles. Note:
1. limestone (fossil coral) often lacks complete and recognizable coral skeletons and structures
(i. e. corallites, septa) but consists of a matrix of lime cement and broken pieces of reef rock and
mollusk shells;
2. cavities in limestone and the spaces between coral and mollusk shell structures are filled with a lime
cement and often are not porous.
AC22 WG7 Doc. 1 – p. 1
AC22 WG7 Doc. 1
(English only/Únicamente en inglés/Seulement en anglais)
CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES
OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA
___________________
Twenty-second meeting of the Animals Committee
Lima (Peru), 7-13 July 2006
FOSSIL CORALS
Membership (as decided by the Committee)
a) Observers from Parties: Belgium, Mexico, the United Kingdom (Chairman), the United States of
America; and
b) The observer from the non-governmental organization Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association.
Mandate
1. Conclude the implementation of Decision 13.96 by analysing the responses from the Parties
presented in the Annex of document AC22 Doc. 19, reviewing Resolution Conf. 11.10 (Rev. CoP12)
if necessary, and ensuring timely reporting to the Secretariat so that it can fulfil Decision 13.97.
Recommendations
1. Recommends that the Secretariat summarize the responses received to Notification 2005/065 (from
China, Mexico, Switzerland, the United States of America and the European Community) on their
interpretation of the annotation exempting fossil corals from the provisions of the Convention (draft
attached).
2. The Secretariat makes these responses available to the Parties and to those involved in the trade in
corals through a Notification and through the CITES website so that they are aware of the approach
taken by the various Parties. Any further contributions submitted by Parties should be added to this
summary document.
3. No further action is considered necessary under Decisions 13.96-97 and, with the communication
suggested above, these decisions are considered discharged. No recommendation is made to amend
Resolution Conf. 11.10 (Rev. Cop12)
Rationale
No consensus on the interpretation of this annotation is likely and further attempts to achieve consensus
are unlikely to be productive. Whilst some minor improvements could be made to Resolution Conf. 11.10
(Rev. CoP12), these would be largely cosmetic and risk re-opening debate on this topic. Accordingly, it is
recommended that this Resolution is left unchanged.
AC22 WG7 Doc. 1 – p. 2
Summary of approaches taken by Parties
China: Fossil corals are remains of coral skeleton buried by natural process and subsequently permanently
preserved, has or has not undergone changes in appearance and does not fall under the definition of coral
fragments, coral rock or dead coral.
European Community: Fossils, namely all categories of coral rock, except live rock (meaning pieces of
coral rock to which are attached live specimens of invertebrate species and coralline algae not included in
the Appendices and which are transported moist, but not in water) are not subject to the provisions of
the Convention.
Mexico: no specific definition;
Switzerland: Fossils are all petrified corals that are as a rule enclosed or part of geological rock formations
(as e. g. in the chalk of the Jura mountain range in Switzerland).
United States of America: Fossil corals are part of limestone deposits with extinct species of corals and
other marine invertebrates. These rock deposits are from several thousand to 500 million years old.
Limestone can be cut and polished for jewelry and lapidary articles. Note:
1. limestone (fossil coral) often lacks complete and recognizable coral skeletons and structures
(i. e. corallites, septa) but consists of a matrix of lime cement and broken pieces of reef rock and
mollusk shells;
2. cavities in limestone and the spaces between coral and mollusk shell structures are filled with a lime
cement and often are not porous.
