The UK political science is set to introduceone of the toughest banson bone anywhere in the world . The prohibition will cover ivory point of all ages , even those that were made before the international trade in ivory came into practice . The maximal penalty on break the ban will be an limitless fine or up to five years in jail .
Conservation and environmental groupshave celebrated the word , as while the sales agreement of off-white taken after 1947 was already illegal , shockingly the UK has remained theworld ’s largest exporter of sound ivory . The UK export more ivory than even Hong Kong and China , and many suggested this trade is stimulate the demand for ivory , encouraging modern - day poaching , and supply covering for the illegal ivory to enter the market place .
“ Ivory should never be seen as a commodity for financial gain or a status symbolisation , so we will introduce one of the world ’s toughest bans on ivory sale to protect elephant for future generations,”saysthe UK ’s Environment Secretary Michael Gove .
“ The prohibition on ivory sales we will bring into law will reaffirm the UK ’s global leadership on this critical issue , demonstrate our belief that the obscene ivory swop should become a thing of the yesteryear . ”
There are , however , to be some exceptions , although Gove suppose that these have been importantly narrow fall out consultation with conservation groups and old-fashioned dealers . The ban will not cover items with less than 10 per centum ivory by bulk and made before 1947 .
Musical instruments with less than 20 percent ivory and made before 1975 – when the trade in Amerindic elephant ivory was officially banned – will also be nontaxable . In addition , antiques that are deemed the “ most important items of their character ” might also be allowed . However , there will be strict regulations on this , with each item having to be at least 100 years old and assessed by medical specialist institutions . The activities of and between museum will also be unmoved .
With over 20,000 elephants killed every twelvemonth for their pearl despite outside bans , the need to act is urgent . The move by the UK government fall after China , the largest marketplace for tusk , in conclusion brought into effect its own forbiddance on the product , although there ’s some disputation about potential loopholes in it . The US has also been toughening its own stance .
With the external community at last lead off to come together on this issue , it is hoped that something can be done to preclude these majestic animals from being wiped out altogether .
