To Mary Lou and any of the AOS Judges who subscribe to the list. The AOS response as posted below is uninformed & wrong. NOBODY selling legal CITES App A species is distributing copies of the actual CITES documents. Not even AnTec. The reason is that to do so would invite the creative use of white out and a Xerox to create dummy documents. Also the documents apply ONLY to the importer listed. What the USFWS requires simply is the SALES RECEIPT indicating the person whom the plant was purchased from and that the plant was purchased inside the USA. The USFWS has on file the copies of the original CITES import documentation and will check their files if or when a particular plant is investigated. The AOS should not require documentation to accompany a plant that USFWS does not require. USFWS is the ONLY LEGAL entity in charge of enforcement of CITES. The AOS is not deputized, and should not insert itself into the matter especially by requiring documentation above and beyond the SALES RECEIPT showing who the plant was purchased from inside the USA. The requirement to display copies of the original CITES documents is wrong, and law abiding citizens will not be able to comply with such an ill informed request. I think Aileen and Mary Lou need to re-read the USFWS requirements. A sales receipt is all that is required. Leo
<snip> Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2006 10:47:11 -0500 From: "MaryLou Porlick" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [OGD] Judging 'illegal' orchids We asked the AOS office how this would be handled and here is Aileen's reply. ''I believe I have your answer. Any of these flasks that enter the US legally come in with CITES from the country of origin. Each of the seedlings sold should have a copy of such CITES documentation. Without that, we don't judge them. The same is true of the legal seedlings of Paph. vietnamense from Antec Labs. The owners of these plants should keep copies of the documentation that proves they are legal" Hopes this helps for the future, keep that paperwork!!! Mary Lou/Miami.<snip> _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [email protected] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
