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| Vietnam, one of Asia's biggest consumers of wildlife products, has suspended all imports of wild animal species "dead or alive" (AFP Photo/HOANG DINH NAM) |
Vietnam, one of Asia's biggest consumers of wildlife
products, has suspended all imports of wild animal species "dead or
alive" and vowed to "eliminate" illegal markets across the
country.
The directive signed by the leader of the Communist
country follows an international scandal over the sale of wildlife, which has
been blamed as the origin of the coronavirus pandemic in neighbouring China.
It is a major victory for conservation groups who have
in the past accused Vietnamese authorities of turning a blind eye to the
rampant trade in endangered species inside and across its borders.
"The prime minister orders the suspension of
imports of wildlife -- dead or alive -- their eggs... parts or
derivatives," said the order released Thursday on the government website.
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| Graphic on pangolins, the world's most heavily trafficked mammals (AFP Photo/AFP) |
"All citizens, especially officials... must not
participate in illegal poaching, buying, selling, transporting... of illegal
wildlife."
Among the most frequently smuggled animal goods are
tiger parts, rhino horn and pangolins used in traditional medicine.
Despite the high prices they command -- with
ingredients trafficked from as far as Africa -- there is no scientific evidence
of their health benefits in humans.
Vietnam locked down swiftly to dodge a major health
crisis as COVID-19 emerged, but its economy has been hit hard.
The country will also "resolutely eliminate
market and trading sites which trade wildlife illegally", the edict said
-- warning of a crackdown on the poaching, trafficking, storing and advertising
of animals, birds and reptiles.
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It is a major victory for conservation groups who have
in the past accused
Vietnamese authorities of turning a blind eye to the
rampant trade in
endangered species (AFP Photo)
|
Anti-trafficking group Freeland hailed the move as the
most stringent to control the wildlife trade since the pandemic broke out.
"Vietnam is to be congratulated for recognising
that COVID-19 and other pandemics are linked to the wildlife trade," said
Steven Glaster, its chairman.
"This trade must be banned as a matter of
international and public health security," he added.
China, the world's biggest market for illegal wildlife
products, has enacted a similar ban. Vietnam has gone further by taking aim at online
sales and imposing an indefinite ban on the trade.
While welcoming the move, conservationists warn
enforcement will be a challenge across a country with long porous borders and
poorly paid officials who can be bent by cash.
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