The trade in wild fauna in the European Union – selected legal and criminological aspects
Abstract
The trade in wildlife in the European Union poses significant environmental protection and biodiversity challenges. It involves the illegal trade of live animals and their parts, leading to the threat of extinction for many species. Despite EU legal regulations, this issue remains challenging for law enforcement agencies in member states. The aim of this article is to analyse selected legal and criminological aspects of this phenomenon, including EU regulations, the trade scale, and crime detection methods. The article also addresses issues related to law enforcement and combating illegal wildlife trade. The international context highlights the EU’s role as a target market and a transit route. Research shows that the number of illegal goods seizures in the EU increased in 2019, with a dominance of medicinal products (of animal and plant origin). The rise of online trade, including in the darknet, further complicates efforts to combat crime. To effectively counter this practice, better monitoring tools, intensified control measures, and more effective enforcement of regulations are needed.
Keywords:
criminology, wildlife, animal protection, CITES, organised crime, European Union, trade in endangered speciesReferences
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