Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his policy to transpose the EU Action Plan against Wildlife Trafficking into UK law.

As a Party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in our own right, after we leave the EU the UK will continue working to ensure that no species becomes extinct as a result of unsustainable trade. The UK is committed to continuing to play an active role internationally and we will honour our obligations.

We will work to develop our own innovative solutions to protect and enhance our environment, consistent with our domestic priorities and international commitments.

The UK continues to show global leadership in tackling the illegal wildlife trade and has committed £26 million to combat it. We hosted the London Conference in 2014 and are bringing global leaders back to London in October to make sure illegal wildlife trade stays at the top of the political agenda.