House Votes for Ban on Rhino, Tiger Products
The sale, import and export of rhinoceros and tiger products would be banned under a bill the House passed by voice vote Tuesday.
Tigers and rhinos are protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and by international treaties, but trade in their parts continues to flourish, particularly for Asian traditional medicines.
Despite current restrictions, said Rep. Jim Saxton (R-N.J.), there are “thousands of prepackaged Oriental medicines sitting on pharmacy shelves throughout America with labels indicating they contain parts of rhinos and tigers.”
Only an estimated 11,000 rhinos and 5,000 tigers remain.
The measure would subject violators to up to $25,000 in fines and one year in prison. Inspectors would be allowed to seize any product labeled as containing rhino or tiger parts without performing DNA tests to verify the contents.
The Senate has not taken up the measure.
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