The UK government introduced the Ivory Bill to the House of Commons today (23rd May). The move is the first stage of the process to bring the government’s ivory trade ban – announced last month to ban the commercial trade in elephant ivory within, to and from the UK – into UK law.

Mark Jones, Born Free’s Associate Director for Multilateral Environmental Agreements & UK Wildlife, said: “We applaud the government for its recognition of the need for the UK, which has been the largest exporter of ‘legal’ ivory items in recent years, to take action on commercial ivory trade, and for expediting the introduction of its Ivory Bill.

“However, the exemptions contained within the Bill will need to be minimal and clearly enforceable if we are to avoid them becoming loopholes that ivory traffickers might exploit. We will be examining the detailed wording of the Bill, and look forward to working with government and its agencies to ensure the UK really can claim leadership in tackling ivory trafficking and securing a long term future for the world’s beleaguered elephants,” he added.