Question NW558 to the Minister of Environmental Affairs
24 March 2017 - NW558
Purdon, Mr RK to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs
(1)Whether, with reference to her department’s draft regulations for the domestic trade in rhinoceros horn, or a part, product or derivative of rhinoceros horn, published in Notice 74 in Government Gazette 40601 on 8 February 2017, the proposed regulations apply to privately owned rhino horn stocks only; if so, what are the relevant details; if not, (2) whether the specified regulations apply to Government-owned stock; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. It is applicable to both privately owned rhino horn stocks as well as government owned stocks.
2. Yes, the proposed regulations also apply to government-owned stock. The same requirements that apply to private rhino horn owners who intend to sell their rhino horns, will also apply to organs of state who have rhino horn and intend to sell the horn, e.g.:
- Proof of legal acquisition must be proven by means of a possession permit;
- Each horn must be marked by means of both a microchip and a ZA-serial number;
- A genetic profiling report for each rhino horn must be available;
- The detail of each rhino horn must be recorded on the national database and must be verified;
- The relevant organ of state must be in possession of a selling permit, issued in terms of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act No. 10 of 2004) (NEMBA), in order to sell its rhino horns, and it may only sell the rhino horns to a person who is in possession of a purchasing permit issued in terms of NEMBA; and
- Organs of state may not intentionally shave or powder its rhino horns, or cause powder, shavings, drill bits, slivers etc. to form, except in the circumstances specified in the proposed prohibition Notice (Notice No. 77).
---ooOoo---