[MPWG] Detection of endangered species in medicines in trade

[Danna J. Leaman]

I recently heard a presentation by Kate Sanders, Scientific Advisor to the 
World Society for the Protection of Animals (at a workshop on Conserving 
Medicinal Species at the World Conservation Congress in Bangkok, Thailand). 
Detection of material from endangered species is possible using DNA 
profiling or species-specific protein signatures, but these methods are 
costly, time consuming, and require expertise not widely available. 
However, Kate described the development of a simple, inexpensive forensic 
system for detecting bear parts (eg bile and gall medicines) that is 
reliable, rapid, convenient, straightforward, and economical, and therefore 
suitable for routine use.  The test uses polyclonal antibodies specific to 
the albumin of seven of the eight bear species (all of which are listed on 
Appendices 1 or 11 of CITES).  The test is similar to pregnancy and venom 
detection test kits.  Trials of the bear parts test kit are planned in 2005.

Danna J. Leaman, PhD
Chair, Medicinal Plant Specialist Group
IUCN/SSC
e-mail:  djl at green-world.org
website:  http://mpsg.org
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Center for Sustainable Resources" <sustainableresources at hotmail.com>
To: <Patricia_Ford at fws.gov>; <mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2004 4:38 PM
Subject: RE: [MPWG] traditional Chinese medicines


> Question Patricia, Is not most of what these folks are selling fake 
> anyway? In other words they sell someone ground up cow horn calling it 
> Rhino. How would you identify what the product is? Fred Hays
>
>>From: Patricia_Ford at fws.gov
>>To: mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org
>>Subject: [MPWG] traditional Chinese medicines Date: Thu, 2 Dec 2004 
>>11:41:13 -0500
>>
>>
>> >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."
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
>
>
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>                                                       Disclaimer 
> Any advice given on this list regarding diagnosis or treatments etc. 
> reflects ONLY the opinion of the individual who posts the message. The 
> information contained in posts is not intended nor implied to be a 
> substitute for professional medical advice relative to your specific 
> medical condition or question. All medical and other healthcare 
> information that is discussed on this list should be carefully reviewed by 
> the individual reader and their qualified healthcare professional. Posts 
> do not reflect any official opinions or positions of the Plant 
> Conservation Alliance.