The Prime Minister has recently issued Directive No. 28/CT-TTg on a number of urgent measures to prevent and fight against wild animal trade and abuse.

Accordingly, the Prime Minister asked the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities to inspect and strictly handle the illegal trade of elephant ivory and rhino horns; conduct inspections at craft villages, traditional medicine production units, souvenir shops at tourist attractions, airports and train stations, among other locations; as well publicise the results of the discovered cases on mass media.

In addition, heads of Party committees and local governments at all levels must take the highest level of responsibility in relation to the occurrence of violations in areas under their management.

The Ministry of Public Security shall co-ordinate the ministries of Defense, Finance, Agriculture and Rural Development, Natural Resources and the Environment in the fight against transnational organised crime related to trade, storage, transportation, export, import, illegal temporary import and re-export of wild plants and wild animals, especially elephant ivory and rhino horns.

Meanwhile, competent authorities of investigation, prosecution, adjudication and settlement of administrative violations shall focus on reviewing cases involving violations of export, import, transport, trade, storage, advertising, and unlawful use of wild plants and animals, especially elephant ivory, rhino horns, and tiger specimens, and urgently handle the cases in accordance with the law.

Nhan Dan