PERMANENT BAN ON WILD-CAUGHT BIRDS

That this House welcomes the report by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) which highlights the very serious risks to public health created by the trade in wild-caught birds; recognises the risk the trade creates of introducing diseases such as avian influenza and Newcastle disease into the European Union; notes that the EU is the largest current importer of wild-caught birds in the world; condemns the cruelty of capture and transit of wild birds that cause a mortality rate of up to 70 per cent. before the birds even reach quarantine; and calls on the Government to support actively the case for a permanent ban on the trade when the temporary ban comes to review before its expiry on 31st December 2006.