Hebei Province in north China, the country's biggest exporter of frog products, has banned their production and export to protect rapidly dwindling frog numbers.

Overseas demand for frog products has increased drastically in recent years, because of the spread of mad cow disease, according to sources with the Provincial Forestry Bureau.

At its peak, Hebei was exporting 2,000 tons of frog legs a year, accounting for 80 percent of China's exports of frog products.

As it is too costly to farm frogs, the booming trade has led to a drastic decline in the wild frog population, giving free rein to pests that cause widespread damage to crops, the sources said.

To prevent the situation from worsening, the province has banned the hunting of frogs and vowed tough penalties for offenders.

It has also withdrawn licenses for the production and sale of frog products and closed all markets where frogs are traded.

( June 19, 2002)