China made a terrible mistake but they fixed the problem, thank goodness.

Wall Street Journal

In a paper published in February last year, Patrick Woo and colleagues at Hong Kong University surveyed the coronaviruses found in bats and came to a prescient conclusion: “Bat–animal and bat–human interactions, such as the presence of live bats in wildlife wet markets and restaurants in Southern China, are important for interspecies transmission of [coronaviruses] and may lead to devastating global outbreaks.”

National Geographic

On February 24, the Chinese government moved to make permanent the temporary ban on the trade and consumption of live wild animals for food. The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, the country’s top legislative body, issued a decision that lays the groundwork for amending China’s Wildlife Protection Law, which governs the use of wildlife, to permanently criminalize wildlife as food. The decision further stipulates that the trade of wild animals for medicine, pets, and scientific research will be subject to “strict” approval and quarantine procedures.

http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2020-02/24/c_1125620762.htm

(Authorized to issue) Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People ’s Congress on comprehensively prohibiting illegal wildlife trade, eradicating the abuse of wild animals, and effectively guaranteeing the lives, health and safety of the people

2020-02-24 22:29:42 Source: Xinhuanet

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, February 24th, by wire

Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on Comprehensively Prohibiting Illegal Wildlife Trade, Eliminating the Abuse of Wild Animal Eating and Safeguarding People's Health and Safety

(Adopted at the 16th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People ’s Congress on February 24, 2020)

　　In order to comprehensively prohibit and punish illegal wildlife trading, eliminate the abuse of wild animals, maintain biological safety and ecological safety, effectively prevent major public health risks, effectively protect the health and safety of the people's lives, strengthen the construction of ecological civilization, and promote human and nature For a harmonious symbiosis, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress made the following decision:

　　1. Where the Wildlife Protection Law of the People's Republic of China and other relevant laws prohibit hunting, trading, transportation, and consumption of wild animals, they must be strictly prohibited.

　　Penalties for violations of the provisions of the preceding paragraph will be increased on the basis of existing laws.

　　2. It is forbidden to eat "terrestrial wild animals with important ecological, scientific and social value" and other terrestrial wild animals protected by the state, including artificial breeding and artificial terrestrial wild animals.

　　Hunting, trading, and transportation of terrestrial wild animals that naturally grow and reproduce in the wild environment are prohibited for food purposes.

　　For violations of the provisions of the previous two paragraphs, refer to the relevant provisions of the applicable current law for punishment.

　　3. The animals listed in the livestock genetic resources list belong to livestock and poultry, and the provisions of the "Livestock Law of the People's Republic of China" shall apply.

　　The animal husbandry and veterinary administrative department of the State Council shall formulate and publish a catalog of genetic resources for livestock and poultry according to law.

　　4. Due to special circumstances such as scientific research, medicinal use, display, etc., non-edible use of wild animals shall be carried out, and strict approval and quarantine inspection shall be carried out in accordance with relevant national regulations.

　　The State Council and its relevant competent departments shall timely formulate and improve regulations on the examination and approval and quarantine inspection of non-edible use of wild animals, and strictly implement them.

　　5. People's governments at all levels and people's organizations, social organizations, schools, news media and other social aspects should actively carry out publicity, education and guidance of ecological environmental protection and public health safety, and members of the whole society should consciously enhance ecological protection and public health Safety consciousness, changing customs and customs, eliminating the bad habits of overeating wild animals, and developing a scientific, healthy and civilized lifestyle.

　　6. People's governments at all levels and their relevant departments should improve the law enforcement management system, clarify the law enforcement responsibility subjects, implement law enforcement management responsibilities, strengthen coordination and cooperation, increase supervision and inspection and accountability, and strictly investigate and deal with violations of this decision and relevant laws and regulations ; The illegal business premises and illegal business operators shall be banned or sealed up or closed according to law.

　　7. The State Council and its relevant departments and provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government shall formulate and adjust relevant directories and supporting regulations in accordance with this decision and relevant laws.

　　The State Council and local people's governments shall take necessary measures to provide corresponding guarantees for the implementation of this decision. The relevant local people's government shall support, guide and assist the affected farmers in adjusting and changing their production and operation activities, and shall be compensated according to the actual situation.

　　8. This decision shall take effect as of the date of promulgation.