Ivory trade ban takes full effect

Law applies to online and foreign purchases too

BEIJING: China’s complete ban on ivory trade has taken effect, officials said, a major step forward to rein in what was once the world’s largest market for illegal ivory.

“From today ... the buying and selling of elephant ivory and goods by any market, shop or vendor is against the law,” the forestry ministry said yesterday on its official account on social media platform Weibo.

“From now on, if a merchant tells you ‘this is a state-approved ivory dealer’... he is duping you and knowingly violating the law.”

The ministry said the ban also applied to online sales and souvenirs purchased abroad.

The Xinhua News Agency said a partial ban had already resulted in an 80% decline in seizures of ivory entering China and that domestic prices for raw ivory were down by 65%.

The total domestic ban was announced at the end of last year.

By March 2016, 67 factories and shops involved in China’s ivory trade had closed. The other 105 were expected to close yesterday.

From now on, if a merchant tells you ‘this is a state-approved ivory dealer’ ... he is duping you and knowingly violating the law. Forestry Ministry of China

China previously banned imports of ivory and ivory products acquired before 1975, after pressure to restrict a trade that sees thousands of elephants slaughtered each year.

African ivory is highly sought after in China, where it is seen as a status symbol, and used to fetch as much as US$1,100 per kg (RM4,460). — AFP