The Process of Developing Legislative Reforms for the Protection of Wildlife Has Entered a Practical Phase

Today, the Environmental Protection and Mining Inspection Body hosted the second meeting of the interagency working group established to develop legislative reforms aimed at strengthening the protection of wildlife. The meeting was chaired by the Head of the Inspection Body, Hovhannes Martirosyan.

The discussions focused on draft regulations already developed to improve the legal framework governing the circulation of wild animals and plants, as well as the conditions under which they are kept.

Representatives of the Ministry of Environment, the Office for Coordination of Inspection Bodies under the Prime Minister’s Office, the Food Safety Inspection Body, the State Revenue Committee, and other sectoral experts participated in the meeting.

Within the framework of the working group’s activities, legal acts regulating the sector have been reviewed and analyzed, and their compliance with the requirements of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and relevant international standards has been assessed. As a result, a set of proposals has been developed to improve permitting and control procedures and to clarify regulations related to import, export, re-export and possession of wildlife specimens.

At the same time, efforts have been undertaken to review and refine key legal definitions used in the legislation, as well as to develop proposals establishing minimum standards for the keeping of animals in captivity and semi-captive conditions. The proposed regulations will provide the basis for the introduction of a unified animal registration system, ensuring full traceability of animal movements.

Important steps have also been taken to strengthen cooperation among state authorities responsible for border and domestic market controls. Proposals have been developed to introduce digital mechanisms for the rapid exchange of information, which will contribute to more effective enforcement and help prevent illegal wildlife trade.

The package of proposals prepared by the working group is currently in the final stage of consolidation and will be submitted for consideration within the framework of future legal and legislative reform processes.