Ivory sales ban will ‘reaffirm UK global leadership on critical issue’

A BRITISH BAN on ivory sales will be one of the toughest in the world in a bid to protect elephants for future generations, Environment Secretary Michael Gove has said.

The robust measures will be brought into force through primary legislation and will cover ivory items of all ages, not just those produced after a certain date.

Government confirmation comes in the wake of a consultation on the issue, in which 88 per cent of the 70,000 responses backed a ban.

Mr Gove, said: “Ivory should never be seen as a commodity for financial gain or a status symbol, so we will introduce one of the world’s toughest bans on ivory sales to protect elephants for future generations. “The ban on ivory sales we will bring into law will reaffirm the UK’s global leadership on this critical issue, demonstrating our belief that the abhorrent ivory trade should become a thing of the past.” Those found guilty of breaching the ban face a maximum penalty of an unlimited fine or up to five years in jail, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said. Wildlife campaigners believe about 20,000 elephants a year are being slaughtered for their ivory, and that reducing global demand for their tusks is an important part of ending the carnage. Defra said that in line with the approach taken by other countries, including America and China, there will be certain narrowly defined and carefully targeted exemptions.

Although tightened since the proposals were published for consultation, the exemptions still provide “balance to ensure people are not unfairly impacted”, the department said.

Items on this list include those comprised of less than 10 per cent of ivory by volume and made prior to 1947, and musical instruments with an ivory content of less than 20 per cent and made prior to 1975.

Rare and important items of their type, which are at least 100 years old, will be assessed for their rarity and importance by specialist institutions before exemption permits are issued. There will also be a specific exemption for some portrait miniatures.