Bangkok, 16 March 2013

Bangkok, 16 March 2013 Bangkok, 16 March 2013

CoP 16

Ralph Arbeid

International leather value chain consultant

Co-author ITC’s Trade in SE Asian Python skins

Ralph Arbeid

International leather value chain consultant

Co-author ITC’s “Trade in SE Asian Python skins”

1. Manufactured products exceeding US$ 3 bn per year

2. More that 75% top end fashion industry

3. Highly sensitive to fashion trends and demands

The Trade

1. Elimination (drastic reduction) of illegal trade

2. Facilitate real-time CITES control over export

3. Objective instrument of verification on captive breeding

4. Facilitate MA control and custom’s verification

Traceability – why:

5. Contribution to improve animal welfare

6. Safeguard Exporters and Importers

7. Consumer reassurance on sustainability, animal welfare and legality

8. Credible substitution of population studies

9. Incentive to elimination of excessive and incomprehensible bureaucracy (e.g. Italy)

Traceability – why (2):

1. Identification at (farm) slaughter level

Area of capture or name farm Date Species Sex Length of the skin

2. Simple and affordable

3. Real-time on-line registration with CITES database

4. Mobile technology

5. Linked to zero tolerance for unidentified skins

6. Applicable up to the manufactured product

Traceability – what system?

1. Barcodes (Teflon on Aluminium)

2. RFID

3. DNA RFID

4. Combination barcode and RFID

5. Subcutaneous micro chip

System options

Priorities:

- Protection from fraud - Simple distribution - Easy application - Sustainable in industrial production - Affordable - Identification (and regulation) of undeclared

and pre-CITES stocks

Linkage of Traceability

to Sustainability

Population Study

Science or Trade

1. Impossible cover region

2. Time limit

3. Expensive

4. Night hunters

5. Shy and hiding

6. Inconclusive

7. Extrapolations

1. Regionwide coverage

2. Unlimited in time

3. Cost efficient

4. Effective numbers

5. Verifiable (CITES dbase)

6. Highly realistic

7. Exact figures

Science or Trade

1. Challenging being extremely sensitive data

2. Origin of skins Indonesia, but can be easily extended

3. Private sector only

4. Six major tanneries in Italy, France and Spain

My heartful thanks and appreciation to the 6 Italian and Spanish tanneries that actively cooperated in full transparency for their trust and confidence by sharing their extremely sensitive commercial data!

Data collection from private sector

Total length in meters per width category

Year Total Mt Skins Avg Length

2012 182.127 52.775 3,45 2011 142.007 42.685 3,33 2010 121.378 36.289 3,34 2009 53.380 15.750 3,39 2008 127.668 38.575 3,31 2007 158.180 46.127 3,43 2006 97.681 29.182 3,35 2005 180.076 56.643 3,18 2004 43.400 13.152 3,30

Total 1.105.899 331.178 3,34 The info is provided by 6 major tanneries prepared to submit sensitive data

Trade Statistics 2004 - 2012*

0

10'000

20'000

30'000

40'000

50'000

60'000

12012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004

* Related to data received from 6 major tanneries

Quantity of skins over 9 years*

3.00

3.05

3.10

3.15

3.20

3.25

3.30

3.35

3.40

3.45

3.50

Ave

rage

len

gth

pe

r ye

ar

2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004

* Related to data received from 5 major tanneries

Average length of skins over 9 years*

Traceability serves a dual purpose: Legality

Sustainability

Conclusions

Thank you

r.arbeid@gmail.com