According to the Guidance for Promoting the Sustainable Development of Wildlife, recently issued by the State Forestry Administration (SFA), the state will support market access for products of 54 species of wild animal that can be reared artificially, such as spotted and roe deer.  

"It is progress to differentiate wild animals and artificially raised animals," said a leading official from the Shanghai Municipal Office of Wild Animal Protection. The guidance also requires special markings on permissible products.

Ding Dingli, secretary-general of the Shanghai Special Breeding Society, said the guidance is definitely good news for the city's special breeding industry that is sluggish after being affected by outbreaks of SARS (sever acute respiratory syndrome) and bird flu.

However, according to staff from the Shanghai Municipal Office of Wild Animal Protection, snakes, frogs and toads considered to be of special scientific value are not mentioned in the guidance, which means that their killing and use are still strictly prohibited.

(China.org.cn by Zhang Tingting, October 31, 2004)