Ivory Trade

House of Lords written question – answered at on 18 March 2013.

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Photo of Lord St John of Bletso Lord St John of Bletso Crossbench

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage countries, particularly China, in supporting and enforcing a complete ban on the domestic trade in ivory.

Photo of Lord de Mauley Lord de Mauley The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The Government are committed to maintaining the ban on international trade in ivory that has been in place since 1989. Domestic trade in ivory is allowed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) as long as it is strictly regulated and those controls are enforced. Illegal trade in elephant ivory is of particular concern to the UK and we look for opportunities to urge countries with unregulated domestic ivory markets to comply with CITES provisions.

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