Dear Mr Addison

PROVISION OF REQUESTED INFORMATION

Thank you for your request for information about the Cryptic Forest-Falcon which we received on 4 January 2009. Your request has been considered under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

I enclose a copy of the information you requested:

"The Cryptic Forest-falcon (Micrastur minitoni) was first discovered in South America in about 2002/03. As this species falls within the family 'Falconiformes' it is automatically listed as a CITES species. The species is listed in Annex B of the EC Regulations that implement CITES throughout the EU and is thus subject to the controls applied by those regulation. Further information on the CITES controls can be found on our website at www.defra.gov.uk/animalhealth/cites. The nomenclature of this species was the subject of discussion at the Conference of the CITES Parties. Animal Health would not have undertaken any research into the population of this species nor was any specific public consultation required for this species to be listed on CITES."

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. I also attach an Annex giving contact details should you be unhappy with the services you have received.

Yours sincerely

(By Email)

Norrie Stewart

Animal Health Information Manager

Direct Line 01905 763355 ext 8474

Annex A

Complaints

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request and wish to make a complaint, you should write to Mrs Rosie Olley, Customer & Stakeholder Services Manager, Corporate Office, Spur 3, Block C, Government Buildings, Whittington Road, Worcester WR5 2LQ, who will arrange for an internal review of your case.

If you are unhappy with the result of your request, your appeal must be received by Animal Health within 40 working days of the date of this letter. Appeals received after this deadline will not be accepted.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Please note that generally the Information Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have first exhausted the Animal Health complaints procedure. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF