Debated in Parliament on 13 Sep 2021.
Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin asked the Minister for National Development in view of the ban on domestic ivory trade from 1 September 2021 (a) what are the trends in illegal wildlife trade in Singapore that the Government has observed in the last three years; and (b) what other measures can be taken by the Government to strengthen our resolve in the fight against the illegal trade of species listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
As a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), Singapore is committed to the global fight against illegal wildlife trade. We have put in place a whole-of-Government regulatory and enforcement framework to tackle the illicit trade in CITES species, and we work closely with our regional and international partners on this front.
Due to travel restrictions as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, NParks has observed more cases of illegal wildlife trade detected in parcel post, as consumers have turned to e-commerce and online shopping platforms. This is in contrast to cases detected in air passenger baggage, which were more common three years ago. NParks is investigating these cases and will take the necessary enforcement actions.
In view of these trends, we have put in place measures to ensure that our enforcement regime remains robust and effective. Our officers stationed at the border checkpoints and parcel post offices are trained to screen and look out for suspicious parcels that may contain wildlife and wildlife products. NParks is also working with logistics companies and e-commerce platforms to identify such parcels upstream and to remove online listings of illegal wildlife for sale. NParks’ new K9 Unit is also being trained for deployment in different situations to help uncover illegal wildlife and wildlife products passing through our borders.
Beyond enhancing our enforcement regime, we are also leveraging science and technology to support our investigation and prosecution efforts. For example, NParks recently opened the Centre for Wildlife Forensics, which will enhance its capabilities in wildlife forensic science and research. Through the Centre, NParks is also collaborating with international experts on studies related to ivory and pangolin scale seizures and will share the findings of these studies with the international community. This will strengthen our global expertise and enforcement efforts to tackle illegal wildlife trade.
Lastly, we are currently reviewing the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act, to strengthen our regulatory processes and enforcement powers against illegal wildlife trade. We will share more details on this soon.
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