[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 97 (Thursday, June 27, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S7187]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. JEFFORDS:
  S. 1915. A bill to amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to 
prohibit the sale of products labeled as containing endangered species, 
and for other purposes; to the Committee on Environment and Public 
Works.


               The Rhino and Tiger Products Labeling Act

  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, it gives me great pleasure today to 
introduce legislation aimed at helping to stem the dramatic decrease in 
populations of some of the Earth's most exotic and magnificent animals. 
Animals such as the African black rhino, the white rhino, the Bengal 
tiger and other endangered species are on the brink of extinction. 
Rhinos and tigers are disappearing faster than any other large mammal 
on the planet. No more than 5,000 to 7,500 Bengal tigers and fewer than 
650 Sumatran tigers remain in the world.
  Ironically, in many ways their rarity and mystique are contributing 
to the problem. The parts of these animals are advertised as having 
powerful medicinal qualities. For example, tiger bone and rhino horn 
are considered to calm convulsions and enhance longevity. The business 
of trade in endangered species parts and products is becoming big 
business and encouraging increased poaching of these animals--
threatening international recovery efforts. A booming underground 
market has developed around the trade of endangered species parts and 
products.
  Mr. President, today I am introducing a bill that will address a 
remaining loophole in the Endangered Species Act that allows the sale 
of products labeled as containing endangered species. My legislation 
will amend section 9 of the Endangered Species Act to prohibit the sale 
of products labeled as containing any species of fish or wildlife 
listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in 
Endangered Species.
  Through this legislation, we will be addressing the increasing trade 
in endangered species in two ways--first, by giving U.S. law 
enforcement officers the ability to prosecute the retailers of these 
products; and--second, by curbing the marketing of endangered species 
parts as key ingredients in medicinal products.
  First, there is currently no legal mechanism to confiscate or 
prosecute for sale or display of these products once they are on store 
shelves. Through this legislation, law enforcement officers will be 
able to start addressing the increasing promotion and sale of products 
labeled as containing endangered species.
  By addressing the marketing of these products, this legislation will 
help curb the expanding domestic U.S. market for medicines that 
contain, or claim to contain, endangered species parts. By allowing 
these products to remain on the shelves of stores across the country, 
we are perpetuating the reliance upon and perception of the efficacy of 
endangered species I addressing health ailments. Again, this perception 
is fueling increased poaching and smuggling of endangered species 
around the world.
  Mr. President, in order to eliminate the domestic market for patented 
medicines and other products containing critically endangered tigers, 
rhinos and other species, and to increase the success and frequency of 
prosecutions of merchants and traffickers of these items, this change 
in current law is needed. Let us send a message to these merchants and 
traffickers of endangered species that the United States will not help 
feed the global demand for endangered species. Mr. President, let us 
send a strong and forceful message to our wildlife enforcement officers 
that we support their efforts to stem the increasing trade in these 
magnificent animals.
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