Victory For Wildlife: Belgium Bans Trophy Searching Imports, Defending Endangered Species

In a historic win for wildlife and animal safety, Belgium has formally taken a stand in opposition to trophy searching imports.

Belgium’s Parliament voted unanimously to go laws launched by the Minister of Local weather, the Atmosphere, Sustainable Improvement and Inexperienced Deal, Zakia Khattabi, banning the import of searching trophies from endangered species. This landmark determination comes almost two years after Parliament first known as for such motion that safeguards susceptible wildlife, together with lions, rhinos, elephants, and different at-risk species.

The unanimous vote within the Belgian Chamber of Representatives displays sturdy public opposition to trophy searching. A 2020 Ipsos survey commissioned by Humane Society Worldwide/Europe discovered that 91% of Belgians oppose trophy searching, whereas 88% help banning the import of any searching trophy.

Earlier than the ban, Belgium imported trophies from species susceptible to extinction, reminiscent of hippos, cheetahs, and polar bears. The brand new regulation halts imports from species presently in danger from commerce or those who might grow to be threatened with out restrictions.

All species listed in Annex A of European Regulation 338/97 on the safety of untamed fauna and flora, together with jaguars, cheetahs, leopards, sure brown bears, Cape mountain zebra, chimpanzees, and African elephants, are actually protected. Chosen Annex B species, together with African lions, Southern white rhinos, hippos, and argali sheep, that are additionally listed in Annex XIII of Regulation (EC) No 865/2006, are included as properly. The regulation extends protections past the six Annex B species initially coated within the 2022 parliamentary decision.

Minister of Local weather, the Atmosphere, Sustainable Improvement and Inexperienced Deal, Zakia Khattabi said:

“With the approval of my legislative challenge this Thursday in plenary, the Parliament is offering a authorized foundation to the decision it unanimously adopted on 24 March 2022. It was pressing and obligatory to guard these threatened and endangered species!”

Member of Parliament Kris Verduyckt (Vooruit, Flemish Socialists), who proposed the import ban, said:

“Our nation is lastly banning the import of searching trophies of endangered animals. The safety of those species is incompatible with trophy searching imports. I’m delighted that my legislative proposal is now enshrined in our laws and I hope that it’ll function a supply of inspiration for a lot of different international locations.”

Humane Society Worldwide/Europe, which has labored with Belgian lawmakers for years to advance this laws, welcomed the adoption. The charity helped safe the unanimously supported 2022 parliamentary decision, which later grew to become a legislative proposal permitted by the Federal authorities’s Council of Ministers in July 2023.

“The Belgian Parliament made historical past at present for animals and is illustrating its continued and principled stand in opposition to the mindless killing of endangered wildlife,” mentioned Ruud Tombrock, government director of HSI/Europe.

“With this determination, Belgium positions itself as a pacesetter in defending biodiversity and endangered species. We imagine different European international locations are additionally able to observe swimsuit and take a robust stance in opposition to trophy searching by banning imports of such souvenirs. The time is now for an EU-wide ban on the import of searching trophies from endangered and guarded species, reflecting the views of residents throughout Member States within the European Union who share a dedication to being cautious and protecting of animals and biodiversity, in addition to stopping the fragmentation of the EU Single Market.”

Belgium’s motion additionally alerts help for related laws in neighboring France, the place a cross-party Meeting invoice to ban the import of searching trophies of protected species is presently below parliamentary evaluation. The proposal was launched by Ecologist MP Sandra Regol with help from Renaissance MP Corinne Vignon, chair of the Meeting’s Research Group on the Situation and Welfare of Animals.

Earlier than taking impact, the Belgian regulation should obtain royal sanction and be printed within the Moniteur Belge. It is going to enter into drive on the date specified within the textual content, or, if no date is specified, 10 days after publication.

This historic determination marks a defining second for endangered wildlife and firmly positions Belgium as a worldwide chief in wildlife safety and animal welfare.