Beijing bans eating, trading wild animals under new regulations

China has decided to ban the consumption and trade of wildlife in the capital Beijing by approving new guidelines, imposing stern penalties on violations.

The guidelines have been approved in compliance with the earlier notice that was issued by China’s top legislature in February.

The approval of the new regulation is a cautious response to the coronavirus pandemic, which is believed to be caused by the virus linked to bats, China Global Television Network (CGTN) reported on Sunday.

The regulations also redefined the scope of wild animals’ protection and root out wildlife hunting in all regions in Beijing unless otherwise specified, said Wang Rongmei, chairwoman of the Legislative Commission of the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People’s Congress. The new rule will be put into effect from June 1 this year.

Earlier, Chinese city of Shenzhen also announced new regulations banning eating wild animals. It was the first-ever Chinese city to ban eating cats and dogs.