A memorandum of understanding was signed between the Department of Environment and the Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute in a recent meeting to ensure protection for endangered species of venomous snakes used for antidote production.
The t10-article MoU provides instructions on sample taking, venom extraction and the release of the captured snakes back into their natural habitat, DOE's website reported.
DOE's deputy for natural environment Hamid Zohrabi said in the meeting that the document aims to facilitate better coordination between the two parties in helping tackle growing concerns over the dwindling national population of reptiles and rare snakes.
"The MoU also provides for joint research programs to study captive breeding and rearing of venomous snakes to boost their diminishing population and replace the wild populations with captive ones in the venom extraction process," said Majid Kharrazian Moqaddam, head of DOE's Wildlife Office.
According to Ali Teymouri, director of Hunting and Fishing Office at the Department of Environment, a list of authorized venom samplers has been prepared and notified to relevant organizations across the country.
The DOE and RVSRI also agreed in the meeting to set up a joint task force to monitor the implementation of the MoU provisions.
The document was a follow-up to another MoU signed eight years ago.
The DOE warned in 2016 that six snake species used by the RVSRI were facing the threat of extinction, indirectly accusing the research institute of violating the initial MoU's limits on the use of rare snakes for anti-venom production.
Those accusations were denied by the institute.
While the domestic demand for antidotes has doubled since 2013 to around 80,000 vials, figures show that 7,000-10,000 vials of antivenom are exported annually.
