[MPWG] traditional Chinese medicines

[Patricia_Ford at fws.gov]

>From the AATA Newsletter

WWF, TRAFFIC APPLAUD NEW YORK CITY LAW AS FIRST OF ITS KIND TO CRACK DOWN
ON ILLEGAL SALES OF ENDANGERED SPECIES
November 24, 2004 ? By WWF-US Washington - New York City today became the
first municipality in the United States to approve a law making it illegal
to buy or sell products containing, or advertised as containing, endangered
species. The law, passed by the City Council today and awaiting the mayor's
signature, follows an undercover investigation in New York last spring by
TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network of World Wildlife Fund and
IUCN-The World Conservation Union.

The investigation found illegal products widely available claiming to
contain endangered species, including tigers, rhinos, leopards and musk
deer. Simon Habel, director of TRAFFIC, issued the following statement
today: "New York City is a significant market for endangered species
products, particularly packaged traditional Chinese medicines containing or
claiming to contain tiger bone, rhino horn, and other highly endangered
species. TRAFFIC believes that New York City, by being the first to pass
this type of law at the city level, can lead by example for other cities
where wildlife trade threatens endangered species. "Though federal
legislation like the Endangered Species Act makes interstate commerce of
endangered species products illegal, it does not apply to sales within a
city. The new law would close local loopholes within New York City by
making the sale of products containing, or labeled as containing,
endangered species a violation of city law and give New York City
enforcement officials the authority to take action." "This bill meets an
important need in the global effort to combat illegal wildlife trade.
Consumers and merchants now must do their part by not buying these
products, which fuels demand for the illegal killing of these species in
the wild."