Coronavirus: Australia calls on G20 nations to close wet wildlife markets

‘There are risks with wildlife wet markets and they could be as big a risk to our agricultural industries as they can be to public health,’ says minister for agriculture

People buy food at a wet market in Guangzhou, China (EPA/ALEX PLAVEVSKI)

Australia has called on G20 nations to close all wet wildlife markets over concerns about the threat they pose to human health and agricultural markets.

The coronavirus pandemic is thought to have originated from a wet market in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

China imposed a temporary ban on selling wildlife on 23 January and is reviewing its legislation to restrict commercial wild animal trading on a permanent basis, but wet markets play a key part in daily life in the country.

Canberra’s minister for agriculture, David Littleproud, said he had asked government officials from the Group of 20 major economies to back a plan to end wildlife wet markets.

“There are risks with wildlife wet markets and they could be as big a risk to our agricultural industries as they can be to public health,” Mr Littleproud told Australia’s Channel 7 television on Thursday.

Officials in the United States have also called for the closure of wet wildlife markets across Asia.

Such markets sell fresh vegetables, seafood and meat — although some also sell exotic animals.

Mr Littleproud did not mention China by name, but his comments follow Australia’s push for an international inquiry into the origins and handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

On Wednesday, the country’s prime minister, Scott Morrison, tweeted to say he had raised the inquiry in calls with Donald Trump, the US president, and other major powers.

Both France and Britain have said the current focus should be on fighting the virus, rather than apportioning blame.

China has accused Australia of taking instructions from the US.

The Covid-19 pandemic has infected some 2.3 million people around the world and killed nearly 160,000.

Australia has seen around 6,600 cases nationally and 75 deaths from the virus.

China is Australia’s largest trading partner, but diplomatic ties have frayed in recent years amid allegations Beijing has committed cyber-attacks and attempted to interfere in Canberra’€™s domestic affairs.