Trade in endangered fauna and flora is to be regulated in China
from September 1 and officials say the country's first regulation
covering this issue will be strictly enforced.
The rules cover wildlife listed by the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
(CITES). China became a member of the group in 1980.
Chen Jianwei, deputy director of the Office of State Endangered
Species Trade Management, said the rules forbid trading in wildlife
and related products banned by the CITES convention.
The regulations make it clear that approval from the Chinese
government is required for the export and import of wildlife and
wildlife products for non-commercial purposes such as scientific
research, breeding or exchanges.
Zhang Jianlong, deputy director of the State Forestry
Administration, said the rules, known as the Regulations on Trade
in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, would play an
important role in protecting endangered species, safeguarding the
ecology and assisting in?sustaining endangered plant life.
.
Fan Xiaojian, deputy minister of agriculture, said the rules
would also protect grain, ensure biological safety and promote
sustainable development of agriculture and rural economies.
China's rich bio-diversity has nearly 20,000 aquatic animals and
around 600 aquatic plants. The country's grasslands are home to
approximately 7,000 plants and 10,000 animals. But the country's
wildlife resources are under unprecedented threat from fast
economic and social development, said the deputy minister.
Frequent international exchanges and a rapid increase of
international trade in wildlife could drain biological resources
and lead to an invasion of foreign species, he warned. The Ministry
of Agriculture, which is responsible for management of aquatic
creatures and plants, would enforce the regulations, he
said.??
Willem Wijnstekers, secretary-general of CITES, welcomed the new
regulations as they signaled the progress China had made in
complying with the convention.
The regulations stipulate government departments at both central
and local levels must crack down on illegal trade in wildlife such
as the pelts of large cats and ivory, said the
secretary-general.
Other laws, regulations coming into effect on September
1?
A number of new laws and regulations ranging from compulsory
education to data protection and which will impact on the daily
lives of people and the country will come into effect in China on
Friday, September 1.?
The new regulations include:
- Free compulsory education ensured
"Equal compulsory education for children in cities and the
countryside" was for the first time written into the newly-revised
Compulsory Education Law. The revised law is to ensure children get
nine years of free compulsory education. The costs will be met by
local and central governments. They're required to include the
expenditure in their budgets.
- Reservoir compensation funds guaranteed
The State Council's Subsidy Policies for People Who Were
Relocated to Make Way for Dams and Reservoirs will become effective
on September 1.
The central government will spend more than 13 billion yuan
(US$1.63 billion) every year subsidizing 22 million people who were
moved to make way for water reservoirs created by dams. The money
will be raised by increasing power bills by 0.62 cents per kilowatt
hour.
China has built more than 3,000 large and medium-sized dams
since 1949 for flood control, electricity generation, irrigation
and water supply.
- Controls on explosives tightened
China issued strict new controls and regulations on the civilian
use and storage of explosives after a series of accidental
explosions in recent years. The government will also establish a
database to monitor all transactions and transport of explosives.
All manufacturers, vendors and users are to establish a
registration system that ensures the quantities, type and the
destination of explosives are entered into the government's
database.
- Protection of mapping data
The Mapping Management Regulation states that important mapping
data must only be released by the government.
- Prohibition of foreign aid fraud?
The Ministry of Commerce's "Foreign Aid Guidebook" attempts to
remove corruption from the management of relief materials and
financial aid destined for foreign countries. No department or
agency will be allowed to seek illegitimate gains through collusion
with bidding companies, it says. The ministry will evaluate each
foreign aid project and penalize those who violate the regulation.
The penalty includes fines of 30,000 yuan (US$3,750).
(Xinhua News Agency August 31, 2006)