Artikler Reptilearticles in English Update on events in Norway - 28th october 2004
28th october 2004
Dear all
I bear some news from the legislational situation in Norway aswell as my own case about illegal herpetoculture.
The Norwegian herpetological association (NHF) has earlier suggested a "negative list" of species banning species who are "unappropriate" for the private enthusiast to keep while suggesting most species under a certain size who are not dangerous nor venomous be legalised. This proposition was swiftly declined by the authorities.
In an attempt to meet the authorities halfway, the NHF later (several years ago) formed a "Positive list" containing a small number of species in hope that the authorities will accept such a list.
Recently the NHF held a member meting where vice Chairwoman Monica Heggelund held a presentation on the legislational situation in our country.
The Food Safety Authority has now confirmed, black on white, that the "positive list" on exotic animals who will be allowed to keep in Norway amongst other exotic animals such as degus, chinchillas, and hamsters also will contain herptiles.
The NHF has earlier formed the below list of herptiles, I'm sorry that I don't have time to translate the whole document.
The NHF is using 11 criteria for the selection of the species in the "positive list".
The list is as short as seen below because traditionally it has been very difficult for the NHF to be taken seriously by the government.
Criteria:
1. Easy to satisfy the physical needs of the epecies in a terrarium (lighting temperature, humidity ect.)
2. Easy to satisfy the nutritional needs of the species.
3. Low stress level
4. Easy to handle
5. appropriate size
6. The species is well established in captivity ( bred in several generations and in substantial amounts)
7. Few problems with inappropriate transportation from an animal welfare perspective (Example, green iguana imports from Latin-America)
8. Good possibilities for identification [species identification I presume]
9. evaluation of preservation status (CITES/EU-list, The Bern convention)
10. The species do not represent a danger to humans
11. The species are unable to survive in Norwegian nature (in accordance to the law about wild game)
Species suggested:
Snakes:
Boa constrictor
Epicrates cenchria
Lichanura travigata
Antaresia maculosa
Pyton regius
Morelia spilota
Elaphe taeniura
Lampropeltis (with exception of Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum)
Elaphe guttata
Lizards:
Eublepharis macularius
Phelsuma madagascariensis
Gekko gecko
Hemitheconyx caudicinctus
Lacerta lepida
Lacerta viridis
Pogona vitticeps
Tiliqua scincoides
Varanus acanthurus
Baseliscus plumifrons
Turtles:
Testudo hermanni
Testudo graeca
Geochelone carbonaria
Amphibians:
Ceratophrys ornate
Ceratophrys cranwelli
Xenopus laevis
Bombina orientalis
Litoria caerulea
Salamandra salamandra
Cynops pyrrhogaster
Ambystoma mexicanum
It is still quite uncertain how many of the above species will be legalised in Norway but The Norwegian Food Safety Authority will start work on the "Positive list" 2005 and 2006.
I presume that some time after this, some species of herptiles will finally be permitted to keep as captives in Norway, Legally. :oD
From my experience with herpetoculturists in Norway, enthusiasts start off with commonly kept species and if their passion for herptiles persists they eventually move on to more demanding or rarer species.
Further, Our government has requested that some herptiles are legalised but They have noted that they do not wish to change import and export regulations on these animals.
Thus, all import of herptilians will remain forbidden while some herptiles will be legalised soon.
Since herptiles are legal in Sweden, I fear that a massive illegal import of herptiles will open when the "positive list" is accemped by the food safety authority.
Up to now there has not been an organised illegal import of herptiles to Norway but I fear that this is about to change.
Up to now herpetoculturists in Norway have formed small closed communities and gone outside of Norway on reptile Fairs and everyone has smuggled their own animals into the country.
After some species of herptiles are legalised in my country the common man will not have any opportunity to buy herptiles in Norway, since they will be illegal to keep but not to import. Therefore I fear that smuggling of reptiles will become a problem, once the herptiles are smuggles into the country anyone can claim having bred tem and sell them legally.
My estimation of the situation in Norway is that the number of illegal species will rise considerably while the majority of animals in the country will decrease conciderably due to the fact that the most commonly kept spcies will become legal to keep.
On the subject of my illegal herpetoculture.
I received a letter from the police today.
I am charged for importing herptiles illegally, I translate the charges for you:
III The law about wild game §56, 1. subsection, 1. penalty alternative, in accordance to §47.
For without the permission from the directorate to have brought in or set free foreign species who did not exist in the district before.
Basis of charge. [exact translation]
Thursday 22. April 2004, in Løkebergveien 116 in Bærum, he kept 3 tockay geckoes, 15 mourning geckoes, 3 chahoua geckoes, 3 giant geckoes, 5 Dendrobates Asurez-frogs, 3 Dendrobates Aruatus-frogs.
I'm sure you notice that most of the animals are not referred to by Latin names and those who are written wrong.
Out of all the geckoes I had, 9 seem to have disappeared (5 R. l. leachianus and 4 L. lugubris).
Further. The Law about wild game §2 describes which animals are touched by the law;
"As "vilt" (game) are understood all animals that are capable of surviving, or have the potential to establish wild populations in Norway."
My animals can not survive nor establish wild populations in Norway, therefore I have not accepted the charges regarding illegal herpetoculture.
I will probably end up in court over my geckoes unless my lawyer says otherwise.
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