China suspends tiger bone, rhino horn trading

Beijing: China is postponing its decision to allow trading in tiger and rhinoceros parts a bare two weeks after the easing of the ban had raised fears the country was giving legal cover to poaching and smuggling of endangered wildlife.
The official Xinhua News Agency quoted Cabinet official Ding Xuedong as saying Monday that the change had “been postponed after study.” “Relevant departments of the Chinese government will soon continue to organize special crackdown campaigns with focus on addressing the illegal trade of rhinos, tigers and their byproducts. Illegal acts will be dealt with severely,” Ding, an executive deputy secretary-general of the State Council was quoted as saying.
The report said the ban on the import and export of rhino and tiger parts and their use in traditional Chinese medicine would also be maintained. Ding’s comments did not address whether the postponement meant the decision would be revived. The use of tiger bone and rhino horn have continued despite no proof of their effectiveness. (AP)