APHIS RELEASES NINE BIGLEAF MAHOGANY SHIPMENTS, 11 ON HOLD

APHIS RELEASES NINE BIGLEAF MAHOGANY SHIPMENTS, 11 ON HOLD    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has released nine bigleaf mahogany shipments, in addition to one partial shipment, but continues to hold 11 shipments pending further review.
   APHIS released the nine shipments based on information provided by the Brazilian government that the bigleaf mahogany was legally harvested.
   “The U.S. government has made numerous attempts over the past several months to obtain a clear determination from the Brazilian government as to the legality of the mahogany in the remaining 11 shipments still being held in U.S. ports,” APHIS said. “At this time, adequate information has not been provided to release these shipments.”
   APHIS began to hold the bigleaf mahogany shipments from Brazil in early February because of their questionable export permits.
   Bigleaf mahogany is protected under the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Six Latin American countries have listed their bigleaf mahogany populations in CITES in Appendix III. As a member of CITES, Brazil must provide export permits for all mahogany shipments.
   The U.S. Interior Department’s Fish and Wildlife Service monitors CITES in the United States and ensures that importers and exporters have the proper permits to transport and trade CITES-related species. APHIS is responsible for enforcing provisions of CITES related to plants and works closely with the Fish and Wildlife Service.