Guangzhou aims to bar consumption of banned animals in 'medicated food'

The production, sale and consumption of "medicated food "using banned wild animals will be prohibited, according to a draft regulation of the ban on eating wild animals.

The Standing Committee of the People's Congress of Guangzhou, Guangdong province, is soliciting public opinion on the draft, which was issued on Monday and is up for review this month.

The use of wild animals in the production of medicines should comply with related laws on pharmaceutical management, according to the draft.

Wild animals - the consumption of which is banned - are terrestrial animals living in the wild or artificially bred or farmed, as well as key State-protected wild aquatic animals.

They also include key provincial-protected wild aquatic animals and other wild animals prohibited from being eaten under State and provincial regulations.

Animals listed in the Animal Husbandry Law and artificially bred key State-protected aquatic wild animals are excluded, according to the draft.

An individual who eats banned wild animals is subject to fines of up to 20,000 yuan ($2,870), and anyone who organizes such meals is subject to fines of up to 50,000 yuan.

Artificial breeding and farming of banned wild animals for the purpose of consumption could draw fines of up to five times the value of the related animals.

Those who provide venues, warehousing and intermediary services for the consumption of banned animals will also be punished, according to the draft.

The draft is based on the Wild Animal Protection Law and a decision passed last month by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress to ban the illegal trade of wildlife in an effort to safeguard people's health in the wake of the novel coronavirus.