Media Releases
RESTRICTIONS ON POSSESSION AND SALE OF WILD MEAT FROM OCTOBER 1, 2020
RESTRICTIONS ON POSSESSION AND SALE OF WILD MEAT FROM
OCTOBER 1, 2020
The Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries in its Media Release dated September 14, 2020 advised that it had postponed the sale of State Game Licences for the purpose of hunting as set out in the Conservation of Wildlife Act. That remains the position based on advice from the Ministry of Health (MoH) that wildlife hunting encourages congregation.
The Ministry also advised that the Conservator of Forests was still considering aspects of hunting. In light of the postponement of the sale of State Game Licences, the Conservator of Forests is aware of the fact that, without changes to the Conservation of Wild Life Regulations, it is still possible to hunt on private lands and possess and/or sell “wild meat” from October 1, 2020. Without controls there is need to ensure that the market for “wild meat” is not flooded by illegally imported meat, creating another public health risk.
Accordingly, the Conservator of Forests has advised the Minister and the Minister has amended the Conservation of Wild Life Regulations. Effective October 1, 2020 until further notice the Second Schedule to the Conservation of Wild Life Act is amended by deleting the list of animals and birds listed in Parts I and II and most of the cage birds listed in Part III.
Further, the Regulations relating to possession and sale of wild meat from October 1, 2020 are also amended. In effect, from tomorrow October 1, 2020 no person shall have in his possession the whole or any part of an animal, serve, purchase, sell, offer, advertise for sale or expose for sale of the carcass or meat, frozen, fresh, cooked or otherwise any animal referred to in the Third Schedule of the Conservation of Wild Life Act Regulations. This includes Agouti, Tattoo, Lappe, Deer and Quenk.
The Conservator of Forests and other officers of the Ministry will be providing more details to the public on these changes so the public is aware of these new restrictions and prohibitions.
