U.S. Allows Imports of Certain Sturgeon Caviar/Products (U.S. Ban on Beluga Sturgeon Caviar, Etc. Still in Place)
The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has posted a notice to its Web site stating that on April 11, 2006, the CITES Secretariat published the 2006 export quotas for caviar and sturgeon products for those nations that share stocks and that have aquaculture operations in place. The issuance of these 2006 export quotas allows the U.S. to import certain caviar and sturgeon products (other than Beluga sturgeon caviar and meat), as described below:
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FWS Trade Ban on Beluga Sturgeon Caviar and Meat Remains in Place
According to FWS sources, the U.S. imposes stricter domestic measures on certain sturgeon products, including a trade suspension on Beluga sturgeon (Huso huso) caviar or meat originating in Caspian Sea and Black Sea basin countries, which is not affected by this CITES action. FWS states that the U.S. Beluga trade suspension applies to shipments that have been either exported directly from these Caspian Sea and Black Sea basin countries, re-exported through an intermediary country, or transported as personal or household effects. (See ITT's Online Archives or 10/03/05 and 10/31/05 news, 05100310 and 05103120, for BP summaries of FWS' notices implementing this trade suspension.)
FWS Lists Allowed Sturgeon Imports into U.S. (Other Than Beluga Sturgeon)
As CITES has published its 2006 Sturgeon export quotas, FWS is announcing the following actions (which do not affect the U.S. trade suspension for beluga sturgeon caviar or meat):
Caspian Sea stocks: Under CITES established quotas, the U.S. will allow the import of wild sturgeon caviar harvested in 2006 and exported from Iran.
Black Sea/lower Danube stocks: Under CITES established quotas, the U.S. will allow the import of the following wild sturgeon products harvested in 2006:
wild sturgeon caviar, fertilized eggs, and meat from Bulgaria
wild sturgeon caviar and meat from Romania
wild sturgeon caviar, fertilized eggs, and meat from Serbia and Montenegro
Endemic and aquaculture stocks: The U.S. will allow the import of sturgeon specimens from endemic or aquaculture stocks, which are not subject to export quota restrictions, in accordance with CITES requirements.
FWS Requirements for 2005 Harvested Caviar Also Remain in Place
In its notice, the FWS also states that:
The U.S. no longer allows the import of sturgeon caviar harvested from shared stocks in 2005 and exported directly from countries bordering the Caspian Sea, the Black Sea/lower Danube, and the Heilongjiang/Amur River.
The U.S. will continue to allow the import of 2005 harvested caviar that was legally exported during 2005 and re-exported to the U.S. as long as the re-export to the U.S. takes place within 18 months from the date of issuance of the original export permit.
The U.S. will also continue to allow the re-export of 2005 harvested caviar from the U.S. as long as that re-export takes place within 18 months from the date of issuance of the original export permit.
FWS has previously defined Beluga sturgeon "caviar" as processed unfertilized eggs from female Huso huso intended for human consumption, including products containing eggs (e.g. cosmetics). "Beluga meat" has been defined as the excised muscle tissue of Huso huso destined for human consumption.
(On January 3, 2006, the CITES Secretariat announced that is was unable to publish these 2006 export quotas (except for aquaculture) until exporting countries provided more information about the sustainability of their sturgeon catch. See ITT's Online Archives or 01/09/06, 06010915 for BP summary.)
FWS contact - Office of Law Enforcement (703) 358-1949
FWS notice (dated 04/21/06) available at http://www.fws.gov/le/PubBulletins/PBCaviarAndSturgeon.htm.
CITES press release on issuance of 2006 quotas - for some, but not all areas (dated 04/13/06) available at http://www.cites.org/eng/news/press_release.shtml
CITES 2006 quotas for caviar and sturgeon products available at http://www.cites.org/common/quotas/2006/Sturgeon2006.pdf.