New TCM label scheme to fight illegal trade
ACRES and the Singapore TCM Organisations Committee (Stoc) yesterday launched the Endangered Species-Friendly TCM Labelling scheme. It aims to discourage the selling of TCM products made from endangered species, in particular bear, rhinoceros and tiger.
The use of bear parts in Chinese medicine dates back over 3,000 years. Since the 1980s, bile has been extracted from live bears.
The Animals Asia Foundation (AAF), which is funding the scheme, says bears are crammed into cages for up to 22 years. Bile is collected daily through rusting metal catheters stuck into their gallbladders or via permanently open infected holes in their abdomens.
HERBAL ALTERNATIVES
Ursodeoxycholic acid, the active ingredient in bear bile, can successfully treat some liver problems. But there are more than 50 different herbal alternatives, said Acres director of investigations Charlene Tan.
She pointed out how one shopkeeper recommended herbal alternatives instead of bear products during the Acres undercover operation.
"It was very encouraging to hear that. We look forward to working with Stoc to promote the herbal alternatives," said Ms Tan.
Most of the 800-plus retail medicinal halls in Singapore are members of Stoc.
Stoc chairman Lee Tiong Sa said: "The labelling scheme will create more awareness among the traders as well as the general customers of the need to protect endangered species."
AAF founder Jill Robinson said the aim is to "educate consumers that by buying bear bile and other endangered animal products, they are directly contributing to the suffering and demise of a range of species."
Acres executive director Louis Ng said he plans to get 500 TCM shops to have the label within six months. The nine companies that have joined the scheme are listed on www.acres.org.sg
Mr. Ng said : "We urge the public to only go to TCM shops with the label. The strongest body is not Acres, Stoc or AVA- it's the consumers.
"Once demand stops, supply will stop as well."
PENALTIES
Anyone found possessing, selling, offering, advertising or displaying for sale any endangered species (whether authentic or claimed to be authentic), which had been imported without a permit, faces a compound fine of up to $5,000.
If convicted in court, the fine is up to $50,000, and the maximum jail term is two years. AVA will also confiscate all illegally acquired or imported products that contain or purport to contain endangered species.
Ms Lye Fong Keng, head of AVA's wildlife regulatory branch, said it will continue to monitor the sale of bear bile and other protected-species products in TCM shops and "take the necessary enforcement action". Anyone with information on the sale of such products can call AVA at 6227 0607.
Today
2 March 2007
What's that red label in the TCM shop?
Scheme aims to stamp out sale of endangered species products
by Gracia Chiang
BY THE end of this month, the public will be able to tell if a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) shop is selling endangered species products.
Under a new voluntary labelling scheme launched yesterday, shops committed to not selling such products will place the red-coloured label (picture) at their entrance.
Organised by the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) and the Singapore TCM Organisations Committee (STOC), the "Acres and STOC Endangered Species-Friendly TCM Label" will cover three endangered species, namely bears, rhinoceroses and tigers.
These three species are currently given highest protection under the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, an international agreement of which Singapore is a signatory.
Mr Lee Tiong Sa, chairman of STOC said: "Even though this scheme does not guarantee 100 per cent that TCM shops will not sell such products anymore, it's a form of psychological pressure because, by putting up the label, you have to set a good example."
Nine TCM companies representing more than 10 retail outlets have signed on so far. Mr Ng said that Acres and STOC would be holding joint seminars at the TCM College of Singapore and issuing circulars to STOC members in order to increase that number to 500 within half a year.
There are currently more than 800 TCM retail outlets in Singapore.
This new scheme comes on the back of a recent Acres undercover investigation into the illegal trade in bear products for TCM in Singapore which was conducted from May to October last year.
Five pairs of undercover investigators visited 115 TCM shops to inquire if they sold bear products ranging from bile pills to gall bladders. Some 20 per cent of shops were caught on tape, down from 73.5 per cent from a similar 2001 investigation. Although the significant drop is encouraging, director of investigations Ms Charlene Tan said the aim is to "completely wipe out the trade in endangered species".
Based on this tip-off, government regulatory body, Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) made their own rounds at 100 TCM shops this year and found 14 shops offering illegal bear products for sale. Out of these, two samples were tested to be genuine bear bile products and these shops were fined $3,000 and $5,000. The remaining 12 shops that offered bear products, which turned out to be fakes, were fined between $500 and $1,000.
AVA's head of wildlife regulatory, Ms Lye Fong Keng, welcomed the use of the labels. She said: "This scheme supplements AVA's outreach programmes and continual efforts in stamping out illegal wildlife trade."
The Straits Times
2 March 2007
Fewer TCM shops selling illegal bear products
By Tania Fong
Fewer shops dealing in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are selling bear bile products, which are illegal, and even those who did, sold fakes.
Apart from penalties, public education on the cruelty to bears, an endangered species, has helped turn the tide.
Local animal welfare charity, the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) even went "undercover" to monitor and review the situation.
Yesterday, Acres announced its findings. Between May and October last year, it found that only 23 shops, or 20 per cent, of the 115 TCM shops sold bear bile products.
It carried out a similar stake-out in 2001. Then, it had found that 50- or 73.5 per cent- of the 68 shops monitored sold the products.
Acres executive director Louis Ng said the latest figures showed a "significant and positive achievement".
ACRES and the Singapore TCM Organisations Committee (Stoc) yesterday launched the Endangered Species-Friendly TCM Labelling scheme. It aims to discourage the selling of TCM products made from endangered species, in particular bear, rhinoceros and tiger.
The use of bear parts in Chinese medicine dates back over 3,000 years. Since the 1980s, bile has been extracted from live bears.
The Animals Asia Foundation (AAF), which is funding the scheme, says bears are crammed into cages for up to 22 years. Bile is collected daily through rusting metal catheters stuck into their gallbladders or via permanently open infected holes in their abdomens.
HERBAL ALTERNATIVES
Ursodeoxycholic acid, the active ingredient in bear bile, can successfully treat some liver problems. But there are more than 50 different herbal alternatives, said Acres director of investigations Charlene Tan.
She pointed out how one shopkeeper recommended herbal alternatives instead of bear products during the Acres undercover operation.
"It was very encouraging to hear that. We look forward to working with Stoc to promote the herbal alternatives," said Ms Tan.
Most of the 800-plus retail medicinal halls in Singapore are members of Stoc.
Stoc chairman Lee Tiong Sa said: "The labelling scheme will create more awareness among the traders as well as the general customers of the need to protect endangered species."
AAF founder Jill Robinson said the aim is to "educate consumers that by buying bear bile and other endangered animal products, they are directly contributing to the suffering and demise of a range of species."
Acres executive director Louis Ng said he plans to get 500 TCM shops to have the label within six months. The nine companies that have joined the scheme are listed on www.acres.org.sg
Mr. Ng said : "We urge the public to only go to TCM shops with the label. The strongest body is not Acres, Stoc or AVA- it's the consumers.
"Once demand stops, supply will stop as well."
PENALTIES
Anyone found possessing, selling, offering, advertising or displaying for sale any endangered species (whether authentic or claimed to be authentic), which had been imported without a permit, faces a compound fine of up to $5,000.
If convicted in court, the fine is up to $50,000, and the maximum jail term is two years. AVA will also confiscate all illegally acquired or imported products that contain or purport to contain endangered species.
Ms Lye Fong Keng, head of AVA's wildlife regulatory branch, said it will continue to monitor the sale of bear bile and other protected-species products in TCM shops and "take the necessary enforcement action". Anyone with information on the sale of such products can call AVA at 6227 0607.
Today
2 March 2007
What's that red label in the TCM shop?
Scheme aims to stamp out sale of endangered species products
by Gracia Chiang
BY THE end of this month, the public will be able to tell if a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) shop is selling endangered species products.
Under a new voluntary labelling scheme launched yesterday, shops committed to not selling such products will place the red-coloured label (picture) at their entrance.
Organised by the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) and the Singapore TCM Organisations Committee (STOC), the "Acres and STOC Endangered Species-Friendly TCM Label" will cover three endangered species, namely bears, rhinoceroses and tigers.
These three species are currently given highest protection under the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, an international agreement of which Singapore is a signatory.
Mr Lee Tiong Sa, chairman of STOC said: "Even though this scheme does not guarantee 100 per cent that TCM shops will not sell such products anymore, it's a form of psychological pressure because, by putting up the label, you have to set a good example."
Nine TCM companies representing more than 10 retail outlets have signed on so far. Mr Ng said that Acres and STOC would be holding joint seminars at the TCM College of Singapore and issuing circulars to STOC members in order to increase that number to 500 within half a year.
There are currently more than 800 TCM retail outlets in Singapore.
This new scheme comes on the back of a recent Acres undercover investigation into the illegal trade in bear products for TCM in Singapore which was conducted from May to October last year.
Five pairs of undercover investigators visited 115 TCM shops to inquire if they sold bear products ranging from bile pills to gall bladders. Some 20 per cent of shops were caught on tape, down from 73.5 per cent from a similar 2001 investigation. Although the significant drop is encouraging, director of investigations Ms Charlene Tan said the aim is to "completely wipe out the trade in endangered species".
Based on this tip-off, government regulatory body, Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) made their own rounds at 100 TCM shops this year and found 14 shops offering illegal bear products for sale. Out of these, two samples were tested to be genuine bear bile products and these shops were fined $3,000 and $5,000. The remaining 12 shops that offered bear products, which turned out to be fakes, were fined between $500 and $1,000.
AVA's head of wildlife regulatory, Ms Lye Fong Keng, welcomed the use of the labels. She said: "This scheme supplements AVA's outreach programmes and continual efforts in stamping out illegal wildlife trade."
The Straits Times
2 March 2007
Fewer TCM shops selling illegal bear products
By Tania Fong
Fewer shops dealing in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are selling bear bile products, which are illegal, and even those who did, sold fakes.
Apart from penalties, public education on the cruelty to bears, an endangered species, has helped turn the tide.
Local animal welfare charity, the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) even went "undercover" to monitor and review the situation.
Yesterday, Acres announced its findings. Between May and October last year, it found that only 23 shops, or 20 per cent, of the 115 TCM shops sold bear bile products.
It carried out a similar stake-out in 2001. Then, it had found that 50- or 73.5 per cent- of the 68 shops monitored sold the products.
Acres executive director Louis Ng said the latest figures showed a "significant and positive achievement".
Bear bile products and bear gall bladders, also illegal, have been used in TCM to treat such ailments as fever, haemorrhoids, conjunctivitis and liver problems. But public education has drawn attention to the cruel facts: bear abdomens are punctured so that bile can be drawn into metal pails. The bears spend their lives in bile farms in China and Vietnam.
Of the 23 errant shops in last year's stake-out by Acres, nine offered bear gall bladders. They can cost up to $4,000 each, while bear bile pills cost between $1 and $10 each.
Acres later alerted the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA), which carried out checks on the shops.
The AVA seized the bear products from the 23 shops. Six shops were fined, while the 17 others were issued warning letters.
Mr lee Tiong Sa, president of the Singapore Chinese Medicines and Health Products Merchant Association, said: "There is no need to consume bear gall bladders, as there are more than 50 herbal alternatives to bear bile."
Acres and the Singapore Traditional Chinese Medicine Organisations Committee have launched labels to identify TCM retail merchants who do not sell products of endangered species.
There are about 800 TCM retail shops here.
The import and export of protected wildlife, their derivatives and parts are regulated here because Singapore has signed the Convention on International trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites), which controls these items.
Anyone who possesses, sells, advertises for sale, or displays endangered species on the Cites list can be fined up to $50, 000, or jailed up to two years, or both.
_________________________________________________________
With the impelementation of this scheme, with help from Acres, the wonderful organisation which helps animals, the animals are now given more protection over other evil causes, since the high fines will surely serve as a greater deterrence to those who have the slightest notion of even committing such a heinous deed.
But this article made me wonder about the peculiarities of human nature: Why are these required so that people will not do such things to their fellow friends? Is it not a daunting thought if one ever considered that humans did not become the dominant race on Earth and instead others were. For example in the novel Planets of the Apes, then how would we want to be treated.
It is sad that animals can be mistreated just because they have no voice and cannot express their feelings and thoughts, although these are emotions that they surely must have. Every living thing requires love and warmth, and our fellow friends from nature are no exceptions. Of course, Acres is doing a great job in helping animals, but I believe it would be much better if there was no need for such an organization to be founded.
Of the 23 errant shops in last year's stake-out by Acres, nine offered bear gall bladders. They can cost up to $4,000 each, while bear bile pills cost between $1 and $10 each.
Acres later alerted the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA), which carried out checks on the shops.
The AVA seized the bear products from the 23 shops. Six shops were fined, while the 17 others were issued warning letters.
Mr lee Tiong Sa, president of the Singapore Chinese Medicines and Health Products Merchant Association, said: "There is no need to consume bear gall bladders, as there are more than 50 herbal alternatives to bear bile."
Acres and the Singapore Traditional Chinese Medicine Organisations Committee have launched labels to identify TCM retail merchants who do not sell products of endangered species.
There are about 800 TCM retail shops here.
The import and export of protected wildlife, their derivatives and parts are regulated here because Singapore has signed the Convention on International trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites), which controls these items.
Anyone who possesses, sells, advertises for sale, or displays endangered species on the Cites list can be fined up to $50, 000, or jailed up to two years, or both.
_________________________________________________________
With the impelementation of this scheme, with help from Acres, the wonderful organisation which helps animals, the animals are now given more protection over other evil causes, since the high fines will surely serve as a greater deterrence to those who have the slightest notion of even committing such a heinous deed.
But this article made me wonder about the peculiarities of human nature: Why are these required so that people will not do such things to their fellow friends? Is it not a daunting thought if one ever considered that humans did not become the dominant race on Earth and instead others were. For example in the novel Planets of the Apes, then how would we want to be treated.
It is sad that animals can be mistreated just because they have no voice and cannot express their feelings and thoughts, although these are emotions that they surely must have. Every living thing requires love and warmth, and our fellow friends from nature are no exceptions. Of course, Acres is doing a great job in helping animals, but I believe it would be much better if there was no need for such an organization to be founded.
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