Press Releases
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Stricter Control on Endangered Species Trading The Government has extended legislative control over import, export and possession of endangered species to cover artificially propagated plants and medicines made from highly endangered animal species. The new control measures, contained in amendments to the Animals and Plants (Protection of Endangered Species) Ordinance, were published in the Government Gazette today (May 19). Speaking on the new arrangements, a Government spokesman said: "The proposed new measures will take effect in the latter part of this year. "Local traders are reminded to make necessary arrangements to tie in with stricter control." Import and export of medicines made from highly endangered animal species of wild origin for commercial purposes will be prohibited. Appropriate permits are required for importing and exporting of such medicines for non-commercial purposes. Under the ordinance, a 3-month grace period is provided for traders to dispose of their stocks of these medicines. A possession permit must be applied for with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) if traders were still in possession of such stock for trade when the grace period lapsed. The more usual types of highly endangered animal species parts and derivatives which can be used as ingredients for medicine include bear bile and sea turtle scales. Before the amendment, only medicines containing tiger and rhino ingredients were subject to legislative control. On artificially propagated endangered plant species, both import and export are subject to control. A valid export permit issued by a competent authority of the exporting country is required. The more commonly traded artificially propagated endangered plant species include cacti, aloes, pitcher plants, venus fly-trap, cycads, cyclamens and orchids. The spokesman said exemption would be granted for possession of such plant species if traders involved were able to maintain an accurate transaction record up to the requirement of AFCD. Such record should include transaction details, with copies of invoices or receipts attached and are available for inspection whenever necessary. "The exemption mechanism serves to minimise inconvenience caused to the trade while maintaining an effective control for the protection of endangered species. "It allows the Government to focus resources to enforce regulation relating to the protection of endangered species in the most cost-effective way," he added. The amendments seek to meet requirements of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). CITES control covers artificially propagated plants and medicines using endangered species as ingredients to protect such species from extinction caused by over-exploitation. AFCD has consulted the Endangered Species Advisory Committee, Endangered Species Protection Liaison Group, Chinese Medicines Board as well as relevant trade representatives on the amendments. The department also held meetings and seminars with the traders to brief them on the new control measures. "The trade as a whole is well-prepared for the changes," the spokesman said. To comply with CITES requirements, the spokesman noted, it was necessary to extend licensing control to cover medicines made from other endangered species. "This will require amendments to the main ordinance at a later stage," he added. End |
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