Wildlife Act, 1976

Import of fauna and flora.

52.—(1) The Minister may, after consultation with the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, by regulations prohibit the importation, save under and in accordance with a licence granted by or on behalf of the Minister under this section, of all or any of the following:

(a) any wild animal or wild bird of a species specified in the regulations,

(b) the dead body or the carcase of a wild animal or wild bird which is of a species so specified,

(c) any part, other than the carcase, or any product of a wild animal or wild bird which is a part or product so specified,

(d) the eggs or spawn of a species of wild animal or wild bird which is so specified,

(e) any plant of a species so specified,

(f) the flowers or roots of any such plant,

(g) any part, other than the flowers or roots, or any product of any such plant which is a part or product so specified.

(2) The Minister may grant to a person a licence to import any thing the importation of which is prohibited by regulations made under subsection (1) of this section.

(3) The Minister may authorise a person to grant on his behalf a licence mentioned in subsection (2) of this section.

(4) Where an animal, plant or other thing is imported in contravention of this section, an officer of Customs and Excise may require any person (being the importer or carrier concerned) to export the animal, plant or other thing within a specified time, and if such person fails to comply with such requisition he shall be guilty of an offence and the animal, plant or other thing shall be killed or otherwise disposed of as the Minister directs.

(5) Nothing in this section or in section 53 of this Act shall restrict, prejudice or affect the functions of the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries under the Destructive Insects and Pests (Consolidation) Act, 1958 , the Diseases of Animals Act, 1966 , or the Fisheries Acts, 1959 to 1974, or the functions of the Minister for Health under section 31 of the Health Act, 1947 , as amended by section 34 of the Health Act, 1953 .