I first read the not so wonderful proposed legislation in 2012, did not pay much attention to it as it was said it will not affect the spider people, but things seemed to change and it is a bit scary if you actually have to look at the scale of things to come if this legislation is passed and implemented.
So this was the first time I read it.
Proposed Gauteng legislation
Quoted from the link above
Posted by Bushviper on Tue May 08, 2012 12:28 pmrecieved a copy of the proposed legislation. It does not make for pleasant reading.
Alien Animals
21. (1) The animals referred to in Schedule 4 are alien animals.
(2) The MEC may by notice in the Provincial Gazette amend, substitute or repeal Schedule 4 to this Act.
Restricted activities involving an alien animal
22. (1) No person may, without a permit-
(a) import;
(b) transport;
(c) keep;
(d) breed; or
(e) trade in,
a specimen of an alien animal except an alien animal listed as a pet species in Schedule 3.
(2) A permit referred to in subsection (1), may be issued only after a prescribed assessment of risks and potential impacts on biodiversity is carried out.
The list of pet species are:
Mammals
a. Marmoset
b. Squirrel Monkey
c. Hamsters
d. Dwarf Hamsters
e. Chinchilla
f. Tenrecs
Invertebrates
a. Alien tarantulas and alien scorpions excluding those listed in terms of section 67(1) of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004
Reptiles
a. All non-venomous alien snakes excluding those listed in terms of section 67(1) of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004.
b. All non-venomous alien lizards, monitors and geckoes excluding those listed in terms of section 67(1) of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004.
c. All alien chameleons.
So all venomous snakes and heloderma are outlawed, all crocodilians and tortoises. This also includes all Tamarind monkeys, all dwarf hedgehogs, raccoons, fennec foxes, Coatis, sugar gliders, chipmunks, Squirrels, Spider monkeys, Capuchins, Howlers, Gibbons etc
Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with provisions of this Chapter is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction in case of an offence referred to in section 22 to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 10 years or to both fine and such imprisonment.
Restricted Activities with alien invertebrates
66. No person may without a permit import into, or convey in or through, the Province, any alien invertebrate for entomology, commercial or collection purposes.
So this means no meal worms, super worms, roaches, mantids or stick insects. The penalty is Offences and Penalties, 71. (1) Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with provisions of this Chapter is liable on conviction in case of an offence referred to in section 64, 66 or 67 to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 10 years or to both a fine and such imprisonment."
Not to sure if this bill is up to date, but i found it will doing some research on the web.
Attachment DraftGautengNatureConservationBill.pdf not found
To sum it up and point out the issue and the reason it has become an issue if this law is passed.
Restricted Activities with alien invertebrates
66. No person may without a permit import into, or convey in or through, the Province, any alien invertebrate for
entomology, commercial or collection purposes.
So this means
NO
meal worms, super worms, roaches, mantids or stick insects. The penalty is Offences and Penalties,
That means we will not have a supply of feeders to feed for exotics, that is from spiders all the way down to fish.
The scariest part is and my thoughts and feeling, is the massive effect this will have on the hobby in whole.
NATCON seems to have found a weakness across the board by making the food source illegal.
So instead of fighting the exotic pet trade as a whole they are cutting off the supply chain of food.
So it won't only affect the people keeping the exotics, it will affect the petshops, the breeders of tarantulas and the suppliers of feeders this will cripple the market and cause plenty Job loses and unemployment.
The main issue what I know will also happen which I don't think NATCON has completely thought through is the amount of silly people who will just let the exotic pet go as it will have a better chance to get food in the wild.
And allot of "animal lovers" will not stand by and watch there pets die and allot of people will just go under ground..
NATCON will end up with more exotics running around in the wild than in cages.
On the other Hand, I understand the issues they have as exotics or Aliens as they call them are not part of the bigger picture in SA and are the reason why we have a Nature conservation department.
But I feel they should of stopped the alien trade all those years ago and not let it go so far.
We as a hobby need to stand together.
