Sec. 6304. Statement of policy
433 words·~2 min read·
/bill/117/hr/7900/eh/section-6304A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
It is the policy of the United States to— support the availability of scalable and sustainable alternative sources of protein and nutrition for local communities, where appropriate, in order to minimize human reliance on the commercial trade in live wildlife for human consumption; support foreign governments to— reduce commercial trade in live wildlife for human consumption; transition from the commercial trade in live wildlife for human consumption to sustainably produced alternate protein and nutritional sources; establish and effectively manage and protect natural habitat, including protected and conserved areas and the lands of Indigenous peoples and local communities, particularly in countries with tropical forest hotspots for emerging diseases; strengthen veterinary and agricultural extension capacity to improve sanitation along the value chain and biosecurity of live animal markets; and strengthen public health capacity, particularly in countries where there is a high risk of emerging zoonotic viruses and other infectious diseases; respect the rights and needs of indigenous peoples and local communities dependent on such wildlife for nutritional needs and food security; and facilitate international cooperation by working with international partners through intergovernmental, international, and nongovernmental organizations such as the United Nations to— lead a resolution at the United Nations Security Council or General Assembly and World Health Assembly outlining the danger to human and animal health from emerging zoonotic infectious diseases, with recommendations for implementing the closure of wildlife markets and prevention of the commercial trade in live wildlife for human consumption, except where the consumption of wildlife is necessary for local food security or where such actions would significantly disrupt a readily available and irreplaceable food supply; raise awareness and build stakeholder engagement networks, including civil society, the private sector, and local and regional governments on the dangerous potential of wildlife markets as a source of zoonotic diseases and reduce demand for the consumption of wildlife through evidence-based behavior change programs, while ensuring that existing wildlife habitat is not encroached upon or destroyed as part of this process; encourage and support alternative forms of sustainable food production, farming, and shifts to sustainable sources of protein and nutrition instead of terrestrial wildlife, where able and appropriate, and reduce consumer demand for terrestrial and freshwater wildlife through enhanced local and national food systems, especially in areas where wildlife markets play a significant role in meeting subsistence needs while ensuring that existing wildlife habitat is not encroached upon or destroyed as part of this process; and strive to increase biosecurity and hygienic standards implemented in farms, gathering centers, transport, and market systems around the globe, especially those specializing in the provision of products intended for human consumption.