ENDANGERED SPECIES (IMPORT AND EXPORT) (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

The Minister of State for National Development (Mr Lim Hng Kiang): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Sir, the Government has decided to amend the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act to ban domestic trade in rhinoceros products and any gazetted species.

The Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act was enacted in March 1989 to give effect to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES). Currently, the Act controls only the import and export of endangered species. This Bill seeks to make it an offence to sell, offer, or expose for sale or display to the public any species gazetted by the Minister. For the time being, only rhinoceros products will be gazetted.

As CITES considers the rhinoceros one of the most endangered wild life species, it called for a complete ban on all trade, including domestic trade, in rhinoceros products in July 1987. However, this call from CITES is not binding on its members. Singapore has already banned the import and export of rhinoceros horns since October 1986. At the time of the enactment of the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act, domestic trade in rhinoceros products was allowed to continue to enable our local retailers to run down their existing stocks.

By now, local retailers have had more than five years since October 1986 to run down their existing stocks. Therefore, the ban on domestic trade in rhinoceros products should not have serious impact on our local retailers. I should also add that the ban on rhinoceros products, particularly the rhinoceros horn, would not have any serious impact on the public. For those who believe that rhinoceros horn is useful in reducing fever, there are close substitutes. They can either take antelope horn or simply take a Panadol.

Mr Speaker, Sir, international support of CITES has called for the ban on domestic trade in rhinoceros products and this has gathered momentum. Countries like Hong Kong and Macau have taken steps to implement the ban. This Amendment Bill to ban domestic trade in rhinoceros products will demonstrate Singapore's concern for the protection of endangered wild life species.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House.

The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. - [Mr Lim Hng Kiang].

Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.