1. mmary Exotic Bird Record Keeping Scheme Summary

2. In the beginning….. Illegal trade increased since the closure of NEBRS? Promoting confidence in the legal trade of exotic birds EPBC Act: documentation to verify the origin of specimens

3. EPBC Act Provisions in WP Act moved to EPBC Act reverse onus Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), it is your responsibility to be able to prove that any exotic bird you hold is legal.

4. EBAG  2006: Exotic Birdkeepers Advisory Group (EBAG) established  Address lack of record keeping since NEBRS  Develop simple and practical scheme  29 May 2007: advice to DEWHA  Recommendation of record keeping scheme

5. Schemes Objectives 1.Reduce the risk of bird keepers acquiring illegally imported birds 2.Reduce the risk of captive birds contracting exotic diseases spread by illegal wildlife trade 3.Protect Australia’s native wildlife from introduced pests and diseases

6. Background  Announced 11 October 2007  Implemented 7 December 2007  Widely communicated

7. The Scheme Inventory –NEBRS registered specimens –Classes 1, 2 & 3 MTRs Activity Records Guides –Record keeping/documentation – Individual identification –Compliance

8. Participation High Interest packs: total 450 –409 individuals –20 Pet shops, 1 vet, & 2 clubs –18 breeders/zoos Low Interest packs: total 330 –307 individuals –9 clubs, 14 others 898 calls to 1800 number 9694 postcards, 189 posters

9. Issues with forms Interstate transactions (signatures) No details about origin of birds on ARs Use of additional page MTR forms Address details of both buyer and seller Source of birds Wrong colour form sent in Difficulty in adding up birds on AR

10. Evaluation  EBAG recommendations:  1 st stage - encouraging Participation = no regulation  Policy approach for 12 months  Evaluation after 1 st 12 months  Demonstrating willingness to participate in self-regulating scheme