Ivory trade to be banned in UK 'to protect elephants'

The sale and export of almost all ivory items would be banned in the UK under plans set out by the government.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove has announced a consultation to end the trade in ivory of all ages - previous attempts at a ban would have excluded antique ivory produced before 1947.
The government says there will be some exemptions, for musical instruments and items of cultural importance.

Conservation groups have given a guarded welcome to the plan.

Growing market

While the UK has had a ban on the trade in raw ivory tusks, it has become the world's leading exporter of legal ivory carvings and antiques in recent years.

According to an Environmental Investigation Agency report, there were more than 36,000 items exported from the UK between 2010 and 2015, more than three times that of the next biggest exporter, the US.

Conservationists argue that these sales stimulate the demand for the product, and are linked to increased elephant poaching across Africa.

Prince William has long been a campaigner against against ivory trade and in 2016 urged the UK to pass a total ban on domestic sales.

At a wildlife conference in Vietnam, he said: "Ivory is not something to be desired and when removed from an elephant it is not beautiful.

"So, the question is: why are we still trading it? We need governments to send a clear signal that trading in ivory is abhorrent."

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Previous attempts in the UK by the Conservative Party to limit sales of ivory have failed to get off the ground.

A ban on sales of ivory produced after 1947 was announced by then Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom in 2016 but a follow-up consultation never materialised.

However, a 12-week consultation on Mr Gove's proposals is due to start immediately, and draft legislation covering a ban on sales and exports is likely in the new year.

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Hong Kong ivory ban bill makes exceptions for antique objects

Amendments to Hong Kong’s Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Bill were launched last month in the territory’s Legislative Council.

The bill, which is still in the process of being enacted, aims to ban the import and export of worked and raw ivory by 2021.

However, although the bill is stricter on modern elephant ivory, a clause stipulates that trade in antique elephant ivory from before July 1925 will still be possible.

British Art Market Federation chairman Anthony Browne said: “This indicates there is consensus, following decisions in mainland China and Europe, that there should be special arrangements for antique works of art containing ivory of cultural and artistic significance.”

The 1925 date is used in Hong Kong as it is 50 years before the CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) agreement came into force in July 1975.

Different countries use different dates - for example in the UK and Europe the date used to determine antique works of art containing ivory is 1947. In China the date is 1949, which is the date the People's Republic of China was founded.

At the end of 2016, China announced its plans to issue a ban on the trade in domestic ivory by the end of 2017.

Demand for ivory in Asia has fuelled the illegal trade and the slaughter of thousands of elephants each year in Africa.

UK trade associations representing the art and antiques sector, although supportive of steps to end the illegal trade in poached modern ivory, argue the case to allow the trade in antique objects containing ivory.

Associations believe the trade in genuine antiques and works of art with ivory elements does not support the illicit market for poached ivory.

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