Translation:Act Protecting the 16th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora in Thailand, BE 2556 (2013)



Phra Bat Somdet Phra Paraminthra Maha Bhumibol Adulyadej is graciously pleased to proclaim that:

Whereas it is desirable to bring into existence a law on protection of the 16th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and the meetings in connection with the said Conference which are to be held in Thailand;

And whereas it is aware that this Act contains certain provisions giving rise to the restriction of personal rights and freedoms which section 29 incorporating sections 32, 34 and 36 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand permit to be done by virtue of the legal provisions;

Be it enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the National Assembly, as follows:

This Act shall be cited as the "Act Protecting the 16th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora in Thailand, BE 2556 (2013)".

This Act shall come into force as from the day following the date of its publication in the Government Gazette.

In this Act:

"Meetings" means the 16th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and the 63rd and 64th Meetings of the Standing Committee of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora which are to be held in Thailand from 2 March 2013 to 14 March 2013;

"Convention" means the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora dated 3 March 1973.

For the purpose of fulfilling the objectives of the Meetings, the meeting venues and the following persons who attend and discharge certain duties with respect to the said Meetings shall enjoy the privileges and immunities described in the Agreement between the Government of Thailand and the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) regarding the 16th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the 63rd and 64th Meetings of the CITES Standing Committee, dated 1 February 2013:

(1)	 the representatives of the State Parties to the Convention who have been duly authorised;

(2)	 the observers of the United Nations, the specialised agencies of the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency, as well as the representatives of any other States than the State Parties to the Convention, who participate in the Meetings as observers;

(3)	 the representatives of the bodies or agencies technically qualified in protection, conservation or management of wild fauna and flora pursuant to the Convention, article XI, paragraph 7, who participate in the Meetings as observers;

(4)	 the authorities of the Secretariat General of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and the authorities provided by the Thai Government to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora for the purpose of carrying out certain duties concerning the Meetings.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment shall be in charge of this Act.


 * Countersigned.


 * Prime Minister.
 * Prime Minister.

The grounds for promulgation of this Act are as follows: Thailand has become a State Party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora ("CITES") since 21 January 1983 and is to host the 16th Meeting of the Conference of the CITES Parties and the 63rd and 64th Meetings of the CITES Standing Committee from 2 March 2013 to 14 March 2013. In order to fulfill the objectives of the meetings of the CITES Secretariat General, it is expedient to bestow upon the meeting venues and participants the privileges and immunities under the Agreement between the Government of Thailand and the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) regarding the 16th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the 63rd and 64th Meetings of the CITES Standing Committee, dated 1 February 2013. It is therefore necessary to enact this Act.