Efforts of the Chinese Government in Banning Ivory Products

April 1981: China accedes to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

February 2015: China announces a one-year ban on imports of African ivory carvings acquired after the CITES took effect in 1975

October 2015: China launches a one-year ban on imports of African ivory acquired as hunting trophies

March 2016: China expands ban from one year to the end of 2019 on imports of ivory and ivory products acquired before 1975 December 2016: China announces a complete ban on ivory processing and trade activities for commercial purposes by the end of 2017

April 2017: Chinese Government closes 67 ivory processing and trade companies, and the remaining 105 companies are expected to be closed by December 31