According to the Guidance for Promoting the Sustainable
Development of Wildlife, recently issued by the State Forestry
Administration (SFA), the state will support market access for
products of 54 species of wild animal that can be reared
artificially, such as spotted and roe deer.??
"It is progress to differentiate wild animals and artificially
raised animals," said a leading official from the Shanghai
Municipal Office of Wild Animal Protection. The guidance also
requires special markings on permissible products.
Ding Dingli, secretary-general of the Shanghai Special Breeding
Society, said the guidance is definitely good news for the city's
special breeding industry that is sluggish after being affected by
outbreaks of SARS (sever acute respiratory syndrome) and bird
flu.
However, according to staff from the Shanghai Municipal Office
of Wild Animal Protection, snakes, frogs and toads considered to be
of special scientific value are not mentioned in the guidance,
which means that their killing and use are still strictly
prohibited.
(China.org.cn by Zhang Tingting, October 31, 2004)