The ban comes at a time when ivory continues to be traded legally in the United Kingdom and other EU member states.
The UK’s move follows China’s decision to ban mainland domestic sale of elephant ivory and related products at the beginning of the year.
The British government has announced plans to close its domestic ivory market, a move that has been welcomed by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).
The decision comes at a time when ivory continues to be traded legally in the United Kingdom and other EU member states. The UK ban however involves “some limited exemptions”, delaying efforts for a complete ban on ivory trade.
“The decline in the elephant population fuelled by poaching for ivory shames our generation. The need for radical and robust action to protect one of the world’s most iconic and treasured species is beyond dispute,” UK’s Environment secretary Michael Gove said.
“Ivory should never be seen as a commodity for financial gain or a status symbol — so we want to ban its sale. These plans will put the UK front and centre of global efforts to end the insidious trade in ivory.”
The UK’s move follows China’s decision to ban mainland domestic sale of elephant ivory and related products at the beginning of the year.
In 2016, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) parties including the UK, agreed by consensus at the CoP17 meeting that legal domestic ivory markets contributing to poaching or illegal trade should be closed as a matter of urgency.
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