China's top legislature is set to enforce inspections of wildlife trading and protection due to the possible transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus from wild animals to humans.

"The illegal selling of wild animals not only stimulates unhealthy demand, but also results in poaching and animal smuggling," said Ma Fu, deputy director of the State Forestry Administration.

The inspection task force will be composed of members from the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the Environment and Resources Protection Committee of the NPC.

In early July, the team will make inspections in Beijing and in south China's Guangdong Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, focusing on poaching, illegal selling of wild animals or their products, and various animal-selling markets.

The NPC Standing Committee, China's top legislature, has decided to place an amendment to the law on the protection of wild animals to its 2003 legislative agenda. In this sense, the inspection team will solicit opinions on the existing law which was passed in 1988.

(Xinhua News Agency June 21, 2003)