FINES FOR SELLING WILDLIFE PRODUCTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
The People’s Committee of Ha Giang province has just issued a decision to sanction Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Ha (born in 1982, residing in Minh Khai ward, Ha Giang city) 70 million VND for advertising and selling endangered wildlife products. , rare on the social network Facebook.
The sanctioning decision according to the provisions of Clause 2, Article 33, Decree 38/2021/ND-CP in the case of advertising “prohibited goods and services” (prohibited goods according to current regulations of law) The law covers products wild animals endangered, precious and rare).
According to the Education Center for Nature (ENV), from April 2022, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Ha has used a Facebook account with the name “Ha My medicinal herbs” to post hundreds of advertising articles, sell products and sell products. Endangered, precious and rare wild animals such as tiger gall, bear bile, bear gall bladder have the effect of curing many diseases.
Tigers and bears are all endangered, precious and rare wild animals protected at the highest level in accordance with Vietnamese and international laws. These species are listed in the List of endangered precious and rare species prioritized for protection promulgated together with Decree 160/2013/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Decree 64/2019/ND-CP). ) and Appendix I to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
Images of bear bile, bear gall bladder were uploaded to Facebook page to advertise and illegally sell. (Photo provided by ENV).
Accordingly, the act of possessing and trading in products such as tiger gall, bear bile is completely prohibited and can be prosecuted for criminal liability with a penalty of up to 5 years in prison for individuals according to regulations. in Clause 1, Article 244 of the 2015 Penal Code, amended and supplemented in 2017. Even when advertising for sale (even on the Internet), violators can also be administratively fined from VND 70 million up to 100 million VND for individuals according to Article 33 of Decree 38/2021/ND-CP mentioned above.
Currently, the advertising and trading activities of endangered, precious and rare wildlife products such as tiger gall and bear bile continue to be complicated, pushing these wild animals closer to the world. have ability to be extinct.
Traders often find ways to advertise, “divine” the healing effects of wildlife products. However, in fact, there is no solid scientific evidence to show that the medicinal uses of “panacea” are derived from wild animals. Some effects (if any) of wildlife products can also be completely replaced by sustainably harvested herbs or modern remedies based on scientific research.
If detected advertising behavior, selling wildlife products, people should call the toll-free wildlife protection hotline 1800-1522.
