Reform wildlife trade in the European Union
Current EU wildlife trade regulations leave gaps that allow unsustainable and illegal trade to continue.
By Pedro Cardoso, Caroline S. Fukushima, Ariana Maxhelaku, Péter Póczai, Marco Porto, Aurelijus Puksas, Luís Reino, Irja Saar, Oliver C. Stringham, Adam Toomes, Thiago Vargas, Diogo Veríssimo in Research
March 7, 2024
Abstract
The European Union is a major hub for global wildlife trade, yet its regulatory framework has struggled to keep pace with the scale and complexity of the trade, including online marketplaces and species not covered by existing treaties. We argue that the EU should strengthen its wildlife trade policy through improved monitoring, closing loopholes for unlisted species, and better resourcing enforcement, to reduce the biodiversity and biosecurity risks posed by unsustainable and illegal trade.