Protecting Wildlife and Human Health
The preservation of wild animals and plants -- as well as human health safety
standards -- must be addressed if the traditional medicine (TM) industry
is to continue to prosper.
Since many of the wild animals and plants used in TM are derived from the wild,
growing demand will put even more pressure on hard-pressed flora and
fauna.
In fact, more than 80 species of wild animals are currently listed as endangered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and many of these are used in preparing TM remedies.
Numerous safety concerns are also associated with the unregulated production and use of herbs and mass-produced TM patent products. The issues range from heavy metal contamination to possible negative interactions with pharmaceuticals.
As the TM industry commercializes and expands internationally, two critical issues have emerged.
First: Some products are not accurately labeled. Many products falsely claim to contain certain species, and some products do not properly identify the species of animal or plant they contain (i.e., turtle shell).
If a product does contain derivatives of an endangered plant or animal, it may be illegal -- and is contributing to the depletion of an entire species. If a product does not contain the derivatives it claims to, it may also be illegal -- and may be harmful or ineffective for its medicinal purposes.
Second: Some TM companies that import flora and fauna, either raw or processed, do not properly declare the wildlife in the Customs process. This leads to the collection of misleading trade data on certain species. Also, the lack of trade regulation enforcement allows irresponsible companies to be indifferent to the legitimacy and quality of their sources.
Products derived from wild animals and plants may come from species that have been illegally hunted, killed and traded. Without accurate data on wildlife trade and populations, designing effective protective actions is difficult.
In fact, more than 80 species of wild animals are currently listed as endangered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and many of these are used in preparing TM remedies.
Numerous safety concerns are also associated with the unregulated production and use of herbs and mass-produced TM patent products. The issues range from heavy metal contamination to possible negative interactions with pharmaceuticals.
As the TM industry commercializes and expands internationally, two critical issues have emerged.
First: Some products are not accurately labeled. Many products falsely claim to contain certain species, and some products do not properly identify the species of animal or plant they contain (i.e., turtle shell).
If a product does contain derivatives of an endangered plant or animal, it may be illegal -- and is contributing to the depletion of an entire species. If a product does not contain the derivatives it claims to, it may also be illegal -- and may be harmful or ineffective for its medicinal purposes.
Second: Some TM companies that import flora and fauna, either raw or processed, do not properly declare the wildlife in the Customs process. This leads to the collection of misleading trade data on certain species. Also, the lack of trade regulation enforcement allows irresponsible companies to be indifferent to the legitimacy and quality of their sources.
Products derived from wild animals and plants may come from species that have been illegally hunted, killed and traded. Without accurate data on wildlife trade and populations, designing effective protective actions is difficult.
A young rhino orphaned by poachers. The use of rhino horn in traditional medicine is endangering the survival of thi9s species. Photo © IFAW/ D. Willetts
