BEIJING, May 8 (Xinhua) -- China's massive express delivery industry has joined the effort to fight illegal trade in protected wildlife and products by signing a self-regulatory convention on Tuesday, China Daily reported Wednesday.
Twelve domestic companies, such as EMS and SF-Express, and international companies DHL and FedEx pledged various measures to refuse to transport protected wildlife and related products, the newspaper said.
The convention, initiated by the China Express Association, also requires companies to strictly follow related laws and regulations, and to provide regular anti-trafficking training for their employees.
The 14 companies account for around 90 percent of China's total express delivery market.
Some cross-border trafficking gangs are taking advantage of the rapidly growing express industry to sell endangered wildlife and products from overseas to customers in China, Zhou Fei, chief program officer of the World Wildlife Fund China, was quoted as saying by the paper.
China's customs authorities had seized more than 100 tons of endangered wildlife and related products between Jan 1 and April 15 this year, of which around 300 kilograms were ivory tusks and products, according to the General Administration of Customs.
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