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China on Tuesday defended its controversial decision to lift the 25-year ban on swapping tiger bones and rhinoceros horns after environmental advocates warned that the government had actually signed a "death sentence" for the endangered species.
Unexpectedly, the Chinese cabinet announced on Monday that it would allow the sale of rhinoceros and tiger products in "special circumstances".
These include scientific research, the sale of cultural relics and "medical research or healing."
The ban made in 1993 on rhinoceros horn and tiger bone products did not take into account "reasonable needs of reality", such as those arising from scientific research, education and treatment. said Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang on Tuesday.
China has also improved its "law enforcement mechanism" and plans to step up efforts to combat the illegal wildlife trade, said Lu at a point of contact. regular press.
Wildlife advocates fear that the new rules will fuel the illegal trade and put more animals in danger of being poached.
"With this announcement, the Chinese government has signed a death sentence for endangered rhinos and tigers that are already facing a myriad of death threats," said Iris Ho, Wildlife Protection Program Specialist. at Humane Society International, in a statement.
But the State Council has stated that the volume of trade would be "strictly controlled", any sale outside of its authorized use remaining prohibited.
Newly sanctioned commercial sectors will also be highly regulated.
Only doctors from hospitals recognized by the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine will be allowed to use rhinoceros horn powders and powdered tiger bones.
The authorities responsible for tourism and cultural heritage will also have to approve all rhinoceros and tiger products used for "temporary cultural exchange".
The council clarified that only rhinos and breeding tigers could be used, excluding those raised in zoos.
But the activists were not reassured by the regulations.
"Cultivated wild animals" are born in a miserable life of suffering, then are killed for use in drugs.This is a total scandal, "said Kate Nustedt, program director of World Animal Protection, a goal association. nonprofit dedicated to the welfare of animals.
China has been striving to clamp down on the sale of illegal wildlife products, such as ivory, in recent years.
The ban on ivory sales by the country came into effect in December 2017 – an attempt to control what was once the world's largest product market.
A partial ban on ivory had already resulted in an 80% drop in ivory seizures in China and a 65% drop in domestic prices for raw ivory, according to a report by the US government. last year published by Xinhua state media.
Ivory is considered a status symbol in China. Other illicit products from wild animals, such as pangolin scales, continue to generate demand for their supposed medicinal properties.
