The International Alliance against Health Risks in Wildlife Trade is pleased to announce the publication of its new White Paper, Live Wildlife Trade and Markets.
The paper examines the complex links between live wildlife trade, zoonotic disease risks, biodiversity loss, animal welfare, and global health security through a comprehensive One Health perspective. Drawing on current scientific evidence and international policy developments, it highlights how wildlife trade chains and live animal markets can create conditions that facilitate pathogen emergence, transmission, and spillover.
The White Paper explores key drivers and risk factors associated with legal and illegal wildlife trade, including the international exotic pet trade, online commerce, regulatory gaps, and global supply chains. It further outlines prevention-oriented approaches and policy recommendations aimed at reducing pandemic risks at source while supporting biodiversity protection, animal welfare, and ecosystem integrity.
The publication was developed by the Working Group “Transformative System Change: The Big Picture” of the International Alliance against Health Risks in Wildlife Trade and brings together interdisciplinary expertise from the fields of public health, veterinary medicine, conservation, law, animal welfare, and One Health governance.
It is intended to support policymakers, international organisations, civil society actors, and other stakeholders working to address the interconnected challenges of wildlife trade, zoonotic disease emergence, and environmental sustainability.
The document was submitted to the eleven members of the Steering Committee for review and was endorsed with one abstention