Part of: GS-Prelims and GS-II – Health & GS-III – Biodiversity
In News:
Union Ministry of Environment has issued an advisory for import of exotic species.
The move comes as the outbreak of COVID-19 has raised global concern about illegal wildlife trade and zoonotic diseases.
Key takeaways
The advisory defines ‘Exotic Live Species’ as animal or plant species moved from their original range (location) to a new one.
‘Exotic live species’ shall be interpreted to mean only “the animals named under the Appendices I, II and III of the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora”.
Species covered by the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972cannot be traded.
People importing such species will have to make a voluntary disclosure.
For new ‘Exotic Live Species’, the importer should obtain a no-objection certificate from the Chief Wildlife Warden (CWLW) of the State.
It will create a process where all imports will be screened.
As of now, the imports are being made through the Director General of Foreign Trade. State Forest departments were not kept in the loop.
