The positive list approach to Canada’s commercial wildlife trade

Current challenges and the need for proactive protections 

Most government policies related to animal welfare and zoonotic disease risk are reactive, creating rules after the damage is done, as seen with COVID-19. This approach fails to prevent the initial harm. A more effective strategy is adopting a precautionary 'first, do no harm' approach that proactively protects the welfare and health of humans, animals and the planet. 

The positive list: a proactive regulatory framework 

The positive list, gaining international momentum, embodies this precautionary approach. It specifies which animals can be safely and humanely traded based on predefined safety and welfare criteria, including animal welfare, public health and safety, environmental and biodiversity protection, and available species-specific expertise. This approach avoids the pitfalls of reactive regulation, through a species-by-species approach, requiring rigorous, evidence-based evaluation before allowing trade. This approach effectively safeguards against unforeseen risks. 

Criteria for inclusion  

Animals are only included on the positive list if they meet all established criteria. If conflicting data or insufficient scientific evidence exists, the species' trade is prohibited until proven safe. This method ensures that only those species that can be managed responsibly and without harm are permitted in trade. 

Criteria include, but are not limited to:  

• Animal welfare such as lifespan, social needs, dietary needs and behavioural needs. 
• Public health and safety 
• Environmental and biodiversity protection such as risk of becoming invasive and the ability to introduce novel diseases into new environments 
• Available species-specific expertise, including law enforcement expertise and capacity. 

Shifting responsibility

Once established, the positive list shifts responsibility from governments to individuals engaged in the wild animal trade, who must demonstrate that new species meet all established criteria for safe and humane trade.  

For example, as new trends in the exotic pet industry appear, a positive list would prevent new species from being imported and sold as pets unless the importer can meet the strict criteria. Without a positive list in place, governments are required to make amendments to policies each time a new species enters the trade.  

Global adoption and implementation 

The positive list approach is effective, not just in theory. It has been adopted in countries across Europe and Asia, as well as Australia, and at state, provincial, and municipal levels in the United States and Canada. This approach is also common in various industries—including food additives, medicine, and toys—to ensure products are safe before reaching consumers. 

One Health, One Welfare perspective  

The positive list exemplifies the “One Health, One Welfare” approach to regulating the wildlife trade, emphasizing the critical interconnections between human welfare, animal welfare and environmental integrity.  

Healthy ecosystems can only exist when wild animals occupy them, this in turn gives us many benefits such as cleaner air and water. When wildlife is captured and mistreated, it not only harms the animals but also can result in ecosystem collapse and poses health risks to humans, potentially leading to disease outbreaks. 

By adopting a "One Health, One Welfare" approach, we prioritize these interconnections in our decision-making processes, ensuring that actions taken regarding the wildlife trade are beneficial or at least non-detrimental to both animals and their environments, as well as to humans.