Vietnam Bans Wildlife Trade to Reduce Pandemic Risk

After the country's success in containing the COVID-19 with no reported coronavirus death, Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc issued a ban on the import of wildlife and sale of wildlife to reduce the possibility of the emergence of new pandemics.

Marketing of wildlife, as well as online sales, are covered in the ban.

The order, which was released on Thursday on the Vietnam Government website, stipulates that the trading of wildlife species, including animal products such as eggs, organs, or body parts, is banned. Tougher action against people who are into illegal hunting, killing, or advertising of wild animals is also covered in the directive.

All citizens, especially officials, were advised not to get involved in illegal poaching, buying, selling, and transporting of illegal trade is also ordered. Vietnam also plans to resolutely eliminate market and trading sites, which trade wildlife illegally.

A Welcome Move for Vietnam

The move was lauded by conservationists who have accused the government of inactions of stopping wildlife trade. The government has been accused of "turning a blind eye" on the trade, especially of species used for traditional medicine, such as pangolins and rhino horns, despite scientist's warning that wildlife trade can breed diseases.

Vietnam's wildlife trade industry, both legal and illegal, is believed to be a billion-dollar industry, and Vietnam is one of Asia's leading consumers of wildlife products.

Steven Galster, the chairman of the anti-trafficking group Freeland, said that Vietnam has to be applauded for recognizing that pandemics like COVID-19 are linked to wildlife trade.

However, Save Vietnam's Wildlife claimed that the ban did not go far enough. Nguyen Van Thai, the organization's director, said the ban in the directive is insufficient as some uses of the wildlife such as medicinal use or keeping wildlife animals as pets are not covered.

Enforcement of the directive across the country's borders may also be a challenge.

READ: Bear Bile Being Promoted by China as Treatment for COVID-19

All Eyes on Wildlife Trade

As the COVID-19 took its toll to thousands of lives and inflicted millions all over the globe and caused the lockdown of several nations, the wildlife trade has come under global scrutiny.

The COVID-19 pandemic is believed to have originated from wildlife trade. Most experts believe that the coronavirus that has now inflicted millions worldwide and stopped countries into a lockdown originated in bats, moved to still unidentified wildlife possibly a pangolin, and transmitted finally to humans.

 Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, the United Nations' biodiversity chief, has urged countries to ban wildlife markets, which many believe triggers zoonotic diseases.

READ ALSO: UN Biodiversity Chief Calls for Ban on Wildlife Market to Prevent Pandemics 

Ban on Wildlife Trade in China

Earlier this year, China issued an order that prohibits the sale of wild animals for consumption to prevent the emergence of pandemic diseases like COVID-19. The ban also covers hunting and breeding of wildlife except for pre-approved purposes. The exception of the ban includes scientific research, population regulation, and monitoring of epidemic diseases.

China also officially delisted pangolin scales from its 2020 Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) pharmacopeia.

READ NEXT: China Removes Pangolin Scales from Traditional Medicine List