HOLD CONTINUES ON BRAZILIAN BIGLEAF MAHOGANY SHIPMENTS

HOLD CONTINUES ON BRAZILIAN BIGLEAF MAHOGANY SHIPMENTS    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service continues to stop shipments of Brazilian bigleaf mahogany arriving in the nation’s ports.
   APHIS began to hold these shipments in early February because of their questionable export permits. The agency recently released one bigleaf mahogany shipment, but said it continues to hold 21 shipments from Brazil.
   “The decision to release the shipment was based on information provided by the government of Brazil indicating that the wood exported by this particular company did not exceed its legally approved quota for mahogany,” APHIS said.
   “The U.S. government has made numerous attempts over the past several months to obtain clear determination from the Brazilian government as to the legality of the mahogany in the remaining 21 shipments still being held at U.S. ports,” the agency said. “At this time, adequate information has not been provided to release these shipments.”
   Bigleaf mahogany is protected under the Convention on International Trade in 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-listed species. APHIS is responsible for enforcing the provisions of CITES related to plant and works closely with the Fish and Wildlife Service.