Traditional Chinese Medicine and Endangered Species

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is the quintessence and soul of Chinese culture. For many thousands of years, TCM, which is mainly obtained from nature, has enriched the quality of people's life. Unfortunately, some of the natural resources are no longer sustainable due to habitat destruction and over-exploitation. Many of the animals and plants that are used in TCM have become endangered. Tiger and rhino are the best known examples but the number of many other less publicized species have dropped drastically. To ensure sustainable use of our precious natural resources, international trade in medicines containing these endangered species is regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) through an established licensing system.

The CITES

Depending on their population status and the impact of international trade, endangered animal and plant species are included in one of the three CITES appendices for different levels of protection.

Appendix I of CITES lists over 800 species of highly endangered animals and plants. The international commercial trade of wild-taken specimens of these species is strictly prohibited ¹. No CITES license will be issued for the commercial trade in species like Tigers, Rhinos, certain Bears and Musk deer, and Costus, etc.

Appendix II lists over 29,000 animal and plant species which are not presently threatened with extinction but may become so if their trade is not regulated. International trade is permitted under licenses. Pangolins, American Ginseng, Ginseng (population of the Russian Federation), Podophyllum, Gastrodia, Agarwood, Dendrobium, Golden Tree Fern, and those Bears and Musk deer not included in Appendix I. 

Appendix III contains species for which a country of origin is asking parties to assist with its protection. 

Implementation of CITES in Hong Kong

In HK, the Animals and Plants (Protection of Endangered Species) Ordinance, Cap.187, is the local legislation that implements CITES. According to the Ordinance, the import, export and possession of endangered animals and plants, and their parts and derivatives, require licenses to be obtained in advance from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD).

Some Examples of Endangered Species that may be used in TCM

Common Name	Vernacular Name	CITES Appendix
Sea turtles 海龜	玳瑁、海龜板、海龜肉	I
Elephants 象	象牙、象皮、象牙絲	I/II
Tigers 虎	虎骨、虎鞭	I
Costus 雲木香	木香、雲木香	I
Aloes 蘆薈 2	蘆薈	I/II
Seals 海獅	海獅鞭	I/II
Pythons 蟒蛇	蚺蛇膽、蚺蛇肉、蚺蛇皮	I/II
Whales/Dolphins 鯨魚/海豚	鯨骨、鯨肝、海豬牙	I/II
Crocodile 鱷魚	鱷魚肉	I/II
Musks 麝香	麝香	I/II
Pitcher plants 豬籠草	豬籠草	I/II
Rhinos 犀牛	犀牛角、犀牛皮、柱角	I/II
Bears 熊	熊膽、熊骨、熊掌	I/II
Agarwood 沉香	沉香	II
Bletilla 白芨	白芨	II
Golden free fern 金毛狗脊	狗脊、金狗脊	II
Desert-living cistanche 肉蓯蓉	肉蓯蓉 (沙漠人參)	II
Chinese three-striped box turtle 三線閉殼龜	金錢龜	II
Dendrobium 石斛	石斛	II
Gastrodia 天麻	天麻	II
Pangolins 穿山甲	穿山甲鱗、炒山甲	II
Asian cobra 眼鏡蛇	眼鏡蛇膽、眼鏡蛇蛻、眼鏡蛇肉	II
Jatamansi 匙葉甘松	甘松	II
Ginseng 人參	人參	II
American ginseng 花旗參	西洋參、花旗參	II
Picrorhiza 胡黃連	胡黃連	II
Podophyllum 桃兒七	鬼臼、桃兒七	II
Saiga antelope 賽加羚羊	羚羊角	II

Note:

¹    Captive bred/artificially propagated Appendix I species from CITES registered farm/nurseries are regarded as Appendix II species.

²    Excluding Aloe vera