On average, three African rhinos1 were poached at peak levels every day in 2015 to meet consumer demand for their horn, many of them heading to East and Southeast Asia. Under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), all international trade in rhinoceros horn has been illegal since 1977; However, countries like Vietnam have not specifically banned drugs containing rhinoceros.
An online workshop held by the VCCI, the Vietnam Association of Natural Products Sciences (VNPS), the Vietnam Association of Functional Foods (VAFF) and TRAFFIC to the pharmaceutical and food industries highlighted the plight of rhinos and other endangered animals. and plant species used in traditional medicines and nutritional supplements.
Pharmaceutical and functional food companies urgently need to include wildlife protection guidelines as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) plans to ensure that the wildlife products they use do not harm species survival or the preservation of nature. “
Trinh Nguyen, TRAFFIC Director of the Vietnam Office
She continued, “The food and pharmaceutical sectors can have a significant impact on consumer choices, which in turn could support global conservation efforts, Horn.”
We want to encourage companies to be aware of their impact on all aspects of society, including economic, social and environmental aspects, especially when consumers are now ready to pay more for sustainable products. “
Le Thi Thu Thuy, deputy director of the Enterprise Development Foundation, VCCI.
By hosting this workshop with the VCCI, VNPS and VAFF, we hope that the 100 delegates from government departments, private companies and the media will become key drivers in combating illegal wildlife trade in the industry and promote environmental and economic sustainability in the industry.
Working closely with VCCI, TRAFFIC experts will continue to provide guidance on combating the illegal trade in CITES-listed animal and plant species, advice on how to effectively monitor trade entering the country, and make recommendations on changing consumer behavior. By incorporating the proposed communications into their CSR plans and ensuring that wildlife products in traditional medicines do not represent harmful species or habitats, the pharmaceutical and food sectors could contribute to Vietnam’s fight against wildlife crime and support wildlife conservation around the world.
With the support of TRAFFIC experts, VCCI and VAFF want to create a forum for the pharmaceutical and functional food industry to exchange solutions for sustainable development.
