China News Agency, Beijing, March 5th (Reporter Chen Su) The reporter learned from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs on the 5th that in response to recent social discussions about whether turtles can eat, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued a notice on the protection of aquatic wildlife and proposed Chinese sturgeon and turtle are managed according to aquatic animals.
In order to prevent major public health security risks from the source, the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress recently voted to pass the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on comprehensively prohibiting illegal wildlife trade, abolishing the bad habits of eating wild animals, The Decision on Effectively Safeguarding the Life, Health, and Safety of the People (hereinafter referred to as the "Decision") establishes a comprehensive ban on the consumption of wild animals.
However, the above decision did not determine the specific list of fasting wild animals. The Shenzhen Special Economic Zone's Comprehensive Ban on Wild Animals Regulations (Draft Consultation Draft) recently released by Shenzhen also includes artificially reared turtles, turtles and other wild animals. The food list has caused controversy in society and industry.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued a notice on the 4th to further strengthen the protection and management of aquatic wildlife, and proposed to coordinate the relationship between the relevant lists and clarify the scope of aquatic wildlife. For species included in the National List of Key Protected Aquatic Wild Animals, the Approval of Aquatic Animal Species to the Appendix of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and the National List of Key Protected Aquatic Wild Animals by Artificial Breeding, It is necessary to strictly implement the management in accordance with the requirements of the "Decision", and strictly prohibit all hunting, trading, transportation, and consumption required by the Wildlife Protection Law.
Species included in the "National List of Key Protected Aquatic and Aquatic Plant Resources" and new aquatic species announced by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs shall be strictly managed in accordance with laws and regulations such as the Fisheries Law. Chinese magpies, turtles and other amphibians and reptiles included in the above-mentioned aquatic animal related list shall be managed in accordance with aquatic animals. This means that turtles will not be on the fasting list.
The notice requires that competent authorities at all levels should step up law enforcement, resolutely ban the illegal aquatic wildlife market, and severely crack down on illegal fishing and trafficking in aquatic wildlife. For those who illegally hunt, trade, transport, or eat aquatic wild animals in violation of the Wild Animal Protection Law, they shall be punished in accordance with the requirements of the Decision on the basis of existing laws. We must strictly examine and approve the administrative license for aquatic wildlife, and ensure that activities such as artificial breeding of aquatic wildlife are carried out in accordance with laws, regulations and in an orderly manner. (Finish)