Australia calls on G20 nations to end wet wildlife markets over coronavirus concerns

By Colin Packham

 

FILE PHOTO: Australia Agriculture Minister David Littleproud speaks during an interview with Reuters ahead of the G20 Meeting of Agriculture Ministers in Buenos Aires, Argentina, July 25, 2018. REUTERS/Miguel Lo Bianco

 

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia has called on G20 nations to end wet wildlife markets over concerns they pose a threat to human health and agricultural markets, a move which could further strain ties with China after Canberra called for an international inquiry into the coronavirus pandemic.

 

The pandemic which originated in China was thought to have started in a wet market in the city of Wuhan. Wet markets are a key facet of China’s daily life, though not all sell wildlife.

 

China imposed a temporary ban on selling wildlife on Jan. 23 and is now reviewing its legislation to restrict commercial wild animal trading on a permanent basis.

 

Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud said on Thursday he had asked government officials from the Group of 20 major economies to back a plan to end wet wildlife markets.

 

"There are risks with wildlife wet markets and they could be as big a risk to our agricultural industries as they can be to public health," Littleproud told Australia's Channel 7 television.

 

U.S. officials have also called for wet wildlife markets across Asia to be closed. Wet markets exist throughout Asia selling fresh vegetables, seafood and meat, with some also selling exotic animals.

 

Littleproud did not mention China by name, but his comments follow Australia's push for an international inquiry into the origins and handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

 

Prime Minister Scott Morrison tweeted on Wednesday that he raised the inquiry in calls with U.S. President Donald Trump and other major powers.

 

Both France and Britain said now was the time to fight the virus, not to apportion blame. China has accused Australian lawmakers of taking instructions from the United States.

 

The White House has been fiercely critical of China and the World Health Organisation's handling of the pandemic, and has withdrawn U.S. funding from the U.N. agency.The COVID-19 outbreak has since spread to infect some 2.3 million people globally and killed nearly 160,000, according to Reuters calculations.

 

Australia has about 6,600 cases of coronavirus nationally and 75 deaths from the virus.

 

China is Australia's largest trading partner, but diplomatic ties have frayed in recent years amid allegations Beijing has committed cyber-attacks and has attempted to interfere in Canberra’s domestic affairs.

 

(Reporting by Colin Packham; Editing by Michael Perry)

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-04-23

 

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15 minutes ago, webfact said:

China has accused Australian lawmakers of taking instructions from the United States.

Explains a few recent posts on here 

Just take china out of the picture entirely. Close borders and keep them out. They dont deserve to associate with the world given there disgusting actions with regards to the virus, islands in the south china sea, human rights, etc. Countries really gotta stop pissing and moaning and produce more at home. End of story... If not i reckon we will be heading for wat in the next 5years or so. Best stop funding them now!!

Very much in line with UN biodiversity chief called for the ban on wild life markets globally to avert pandemics. WWF supported the ban and put up a good piece of information on the rising zoonotic diseases (below). The destruction of habitats of wild animals for industrial uses have also been linked to the increasing zoonotic diseases. 
https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/why-we-must-close-high-risk-wildlife-markets

Trouble is u got that wrong. Australia is being funded by China.

Nobody squeeked as long as the money was coming in.

Disapointing that the boffins in this area of science in this modern day & age could not have seen somethis happening though, which is a bit scarry,,,, what next ?

It would be outrageous if there wasn't an international inquiry given the consequences of this virus.  It needs to be looked in to in much the same way as a coronial investigation, to see whether measure can be taken to minimise risk and/or be better prepared for the next one.   

 

If China did hide information that exacerbated the spread, they need to be called to account.  Not sure what that would look like though.

I doubt that anything will change when the Wuhan Corona virus is a thing of the past.

Did anything change after the Guangzhou SARS virus outbreak stop, Nope.

  It would be nice to hear China announce that they are outlawing the sale of exotic

wildlife in their markets, but I will not hold my breath. After all China seems mad

that they are being blamed at all for this virus outbreak.

Geezer

On 4/23/2020 at 8:56 AM, Salerno said:

Explains a few recent posts on here 

 

The poodle yelps when the master kicks it!