China's top legislature, the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), on Monday approved a draft decision on thoroughly banning illegal wildlife trade and eliminating the bad habits of eating wild animals to safeguard people's lives and health. 

The aim is to make clear the complete ban on the consumption of wild animals in a timely manner, crack down on the illegal trade in wild animals, and provide a strong legislative guarantee for winning the battle against the novel coronavirus outbreak and protecting people's lives and health before the relevant laws are amended. 

On January 26, Chinese authorities issued a nationwide suspension on the trade of wild animals, in an effort to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).