Biotech Updates

Lawmakers Consider First-Ever Biodiversity Bill in Vietnam

June 13, 2008

The majority of the National Assembly in Vietnam recently agreed to the nation's first-ever biodiversity bill. This sets the stage for more legal framework for sustainable use of natural resources and protection of biodiversity. Many advocated provisions that allow the commercial breeding and raising of rare animals, arguing this would not be counter to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) that Vietnam has ratified. Some called for provisions to encourage all economic sectors to take part in conservation and sustainable development of biodiversity. The provisions should specify mechanisms for reasonable profit-sharing and tight management and supervision over the transportation, trading and marketing of species listed for special protection, legislators said.

For more information, visit: http://english.vietnamnet.vn/politics/2008/06/786353/ or contact Le Thu Hien of the Vietnam Biotechnology Information Center at hientttm@yahoo.com.