Coronavirus: Wuhan confirms China’s ban on trade, eating of wild animals

City at epicentre of initial Covid-19 outbreak also prohibits hunting and breeding except for selected, preapproved purposes

Move follows central government’s fast-track decision in February to restrict wild animal trade

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China is trying to stamp out the trade in wild animals like civets. Photo: AFP

Published: 7:15pm, 21 May 2020Updated: 11:22pm, 21 May 2020

Authorities in Wuhan, the central China city where the coronavirus was first detected at the end of last year, have reaffirmed the central government’s ban on the consumption and trade of wild animals.

“Online trading platforms, commercial markets, agricultural markets and restaurants, as well as transport and logistics companies shall not supply venues or services for wildlife consumption,” the city government said on its website on Thursday.

The hunting of wild animals was also now banned, the notice said, except for the purposes of “scientific research, population regulation and monitoring of epidemic diseases”.

A similar restriction applied to the breeding of non-domesticated animals, with exceptions for the purposes of “species protection, scientific research and animal exhibitions [such as zoos and wildlife parks]” that had been approved by the government, it said.

The ruling from Wuhan comes after the central government fast-tracked a decision to ban the consumption and trade in wild animals with immediate effect on February 24.

As Covid-19 has spread around the world, China has faced widespread criticism of its initial handling of the outbreak and calls have been growing for an independent investigation into the origin of the disease.