The UK has played a crucial role in galvanising international action to combat the illegal wildlife trade. The Government is committed to maintaining the current global ban on any new international trade in raw ivory; the UK does not permit trade in raw ivory tusks of any age and is pressing for this approach to be taken internationally.
The Conservative Party committed in its manifesto in 2015 to press for a total ban on ivory sales. To support this goal the Government will soon launch a consultation on plans to ban all sales of modern-day ivory, which will put the UK’s rules on ivory sales among the toughest in the world.
However, Ivory has over the centuries been used in a wide variety of products and artefacts: not just ornaments made solely of it, but also as components of decorative items and musical instruments, such as piano keys, violin bows and bagpipes.
It is important, therefore, to understand the impact that banning this trade could have, including on the businesses, cultural institutions and individuals who own them, as well as the connection between trade in ivory antiques and the conservation of elephants today. The consultation will include a call for evidence on those points.