Antique dealers’ last-ditch bid for ivory sales

ANTIQUES dealers launched a lastminute attempt to block a government blanket ban on ivory sales, arguing for a licensing scheme that would still allow them to trade in “fine pieces”.

Michael Gove, the Environment Secretary, announced in October that he proposed banning the sale of all ivory, both new and antique, after a high-profile campaign backed by the Duke of Cambridge.

Campaigners have warned that elephants are being driven to the brink of extinction by illegal poaching fuelled by the trade.

The Government has proposed limited exemptions for sales to and between museums, musical instruments, items containing only small amounts of ivory, and items that are of significant historical, cultural, or artistic value.

But leading members of the antiques trade have told MPS that dealers should instead be charged a licence fee for selling antique ivory.