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Study uncovers Facebook trade in wild animals
The most commonly listed animal was the Sundra slow loris, which was illegally traded as a pet and prop for tourists.

Over 1,500 animals listed for sale in Thailand 

A study by the wildlife group TRAFFIC has found more than 1,500 live animals listed for sale on Facebook in Thailand.

Researchers monitored a dozen Facebook groups for 30 minutes a day, over 23 days in 2016.

A follow-up study in 2018 revealed that 10 of these groups remained, of which one had become a secret group. Membership had nearly doubled, from 106,111 to 203,445.

Out of 200 species being sold, 47 per cent were not protected under Thailand’s primary wildlife legislation, in many cases because they were not native to the country. Most were mammals, birds and reptiles.

The most commonly listed animal was the sunda slow loris, which was illegally traded as a pet and prop for tourists. In total, researchers saw 139 listed for sale.

Other animals being sold included a critically endangered helmeted hornbill and 25 Siamese crocodiles.

In light of the research, TRAFFIC urged Thai authorities to close legal loopholes and bolster current enforcement efforts.

Image by Dick Culbert from Gibsons, B.C., Canada/CC BY 2.0/Wikimedia Commons

 

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Defra shares new Sanitary and Phytosanitary guidance

News Story 1
 Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.

The agreement, which will change the movement and trade of animals and related products, could see reductions in checks, paperwork and certification. As well as describing regulatory developments, the advice highlights the importance of animal ID, registration and traceability in disease control and other compliance arrangements.

The guidance can be found here. More detail is expected as negotiations progress. 

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News Shorts
New form for online veterinary medicines retailers

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has produced a new online form for retailers wishing to sell veterinary medicines on the internet.

The form replace the previous Word version and is part of the VMD's ongoing commitment to digitise its processes. Anyone retailing prescription medicines online, including POM-V, POM-VPS and NFA-VPS categories, is lawfully required to register with the VMD before trading.

The change only applies to new applicants. Retailers already listed on the VMD's Register of Online Retailers or registered under the Accredited Internet Retailer Scheme (AIRS) do not need to do anything.