China postpones trade on rhino horns, tiger parts
News & Trends •
the three strict bans will continue to be enforced strictly ban the import and export of rhinos tigers and their byproducts1 china has postponed the lifting of a ban on the trade of rhino horn and tiger parts for medicine and other uses1 in october the state council issued a circular replacing a 1993 ban on the trade of tiger bones and rhinoceros horn opening up exceptions under special circumstances including medical research1 environmental groups said lifting of the ban would be disastrous for endangered rhinoceros and tiger populations even if the animal parts were only sourced from those bred in captivity1 rhinos and tigers are already under critical pressure from a black market supplying the traditional medicine trade1 the detailed regulations for implementation of the october change had been postponed after study the official media reported citing state council executive deputy secretary-general ding xuedong1 under the october plan exceptions to the ban could be made for parts from those animals bred in captivity being used for medical and scientific research education and cultural exchanges1 ding did not give a reason for postponing the change or indicate if it would be permanent but said the old ban remained in force1 the government said on monday after a storm of protest from conservation groups over a plan to water down the decades-old prohibition1 strictly banned are the sale purchase transport carrying and mailing of rhinos tigers and their byproducts1 the use of rhino horns and tiger bones in medicine are strictly banned ding said1 china would continue to organise special crackdown campaigns with a focus on addressing the illegal trade of rhinos tigers and their byproducts1 illegal acts will be dealt with severely ding said1 conservation groups argue that easing the ban would be devastating for efforts to protect tigers and rhinos1 such lifting would confuse consumers and authorities as to which products were legal and which not and expand markets for them1 china banned trade in tiger bones and rhino horns 25 years ago as part of global efforts to save the animals1 commercial tiger farms are legal in china and although using tiger bones in medicine was banned tiger parts from farms often end up in tonics or other medicines animal rights groups say1