The 17th conference of the parties (COP 17) to the international convention on trade in endangered species (CITES) opened in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Tuesday 4 October and met the European Union’s expectations(see EUROPE 11629).
One of the main causes of EU delight is the continuation of the current international ban on ivory sales despite attempts by Zimbabwe and Namibia to be granted the right to sell their ivory stocks. The EU successfully opposed the idea of allowing ivory...