China Ban Consumption of Wild Animals

Human consumption of wild animals, along with its associated trading activities, were banned this week by the Chinese National People’s Congress Standing Committee.
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This follows on from the worldwide outrage caused by the links between bad animal welfare and animal farming to the spread of the current Coronavirus global pandemic, and others less contagious viruses in recent years.

CNN reported that the $74 billion industry was banned due to public health and ecological security issues, according to a statement by Chinese state news. They also stated that the ultimate aim of the ban was to eradicate the eating of wild animals and the illegal trading of wildlife.

This recent ban follows on from a temporary suspension of the sale of wildlife for human consumption. That temporary ban had been issued on 26th January to stem the spread of the COVID-19 virus, which is believed to have come from the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan. It is thought that the disease was transferred to humans by either pigs, civets, or pangolins, the latter being an endangered species that China’s Wildlife Protection Laws already ban the consumption of.

Zhang Tiewei, a spokesperson for China’s Legislative Affairs Commission, said that concerns had been mounting as to the hidden dangers of consuming wild animals even before the COVID-19 pandemic. The disease has further highlighted these concerns.

There is uncertainty about which species will be protected under the new ban, or whether the ban will cover wildfowl or aquatic animals. Livestock, also, is being questioned, as pigs have yet to be ruled out as being responsible for the disease ‘jumping’ to humans. The ban also means stricter procedures for the use of animals in medical or scientific research.