Republic Limits Venom Exports to Boost Profits

MOSCOW —  The snake and scorpion venom business has become so profitable that officials in the Soviet republic of Azerbaijan have imposed export quotas.

The official Tass news agency said Monday that Ayaz Mutalibov, leader of the southern republic, signed a decree controlling the export of the venom, along with medicinal herbs and other folk medicine. The law also sets up snake and herb farms to increase the profitable business.

Previously, folk remedies such as the venom of snakes and scorpions, used for back aches and other pain, were not controlled in Azerbaijan, and the republic was losing significant profits from the export of the medicines, Tass said.