Since the outbreak of COVID-19, Chinese lawmakers have acted swiftly to bolster wildlife protection laws, aiming to close loopholes that may have contributed to the pandemic’s emergence.
While the exact source of COVID-19 remains undetermined, scientists agree that over 70 percent of new infectious diseases originate from wild animals. Recognizing the potential risks, China’s top legislature, the National People’s Congress (NPC), issued a nationwide ban on the illegal trade and consumption of wildlife on February 24.
Professor Yang Zhaoxia, director of the Ecological Law Research Center at Beijing Forestry University, supports the decisive action. “Current legislation mainly concerns the ecological aspect of wildlife protection,” she explained. “Animals like bats were not included in the protection law. Now, seeing that these animals are highly capable of transmitting viruses, the legislature issued the ban to prevent such risks to public health.”
Following the ban, the NPC Standing Committee deliberated on two additional laws related to animal epidemic prevention and biosecurity. Later this year, lawmakers are set to amend the country’s Wildlife Protection Law, which was enacted in 1989 and has undergone four revisions, most recently in 2018.
Professor Yang, who participated in previous amendments, emphasizes the need for clearer classification of wildlife. “Currently, there are two classifications of wild animals: those inhabiting the wild and those artificially bred. But this is not enough,” she noted. “We need to further classify which animals are edible and which are not. For example, those bred with mature technology and that meet sanitary standards should be allowed in markets.”
She added that once classifications are specified, toughening punishments for violations will be equally important.
Zheng Hong, Vice President of Xihua University and a member of China’s top political advisory body, advocates for enhanced law enforcement. “When amending the Wildlife Protection Law, it’s crucial to work out the fine details, emphasize stricter law enforcement, and promote inter-departmental cooperation,” she said. “The public should be involved to supervise law enforcement and provide information on violation cases.”
China’s swift legislative response underscores the nation’s commitment to preventing future outbreaks linked to wildlife and safeguarding public health. As the world grapples with the impacts of COVID-19, such measures may serve as a model for other countries seeking to strengthen their own wildlife protection policies.
Reference(s):
China reacts swiftly to plug loopholes in wild animal protection
cgtn.com
