The Department for Environment Food & Rural Affair’s consultation closed on December 29 and in the week leading up to its conclusion more than 30,000 responses were submitted.
Defra is analysing the results and said it will publish a response to the consultation shortly.
A spokesman said the consultation included “narrowly-defined and carefully-targeted exemptions for items which do not contribute to the poaching of elephants and where a ban would be unwarranted”.
The suggested exemptions were: musical instruments; items containing only a small proportion of ivory; items of significant historic, artistic or cultural value; and sales to and between museums. Defra confirmed it “worked with a range of stakeholders such as conservationists, the arts and antiques sectors and other interested parties” on these exemptions. The full detail of a ban, any exemptions and how it will be implemented will be announced in due course.
Global efforts
Environment secretary Michael Gove said: “It’s incredibly heartening that so many people have contributed to our consultation. The response underlines that we are a nation which cares for wildlife. In 2018 the UK must be front and centre of global efforts to end this insidious trade.”
Mark Dodgson, The British Antique Dealers’ Association secretary general, said: “We are not surprised by the level of interest in the consultation. Like all right-thinking people, we abhor the immoral slaughter of elephants and the illegal trade in poached ivory.
“In our response BADA has emphasised that there has been no connection between the historical and cultural objects sold by our members and the illicit trade in poached ivory.
He added: “We have urged the Government to ensure that objects of genuine cultural, historical and artistic relevance can continue to be traded, whilst removing from sale modern ivory and tourist trinkets of questionable cultural importance.”
In China, the government’s ivory ban came into effect at the end of last year. First announced in 2016, the ban was introduced in stages. However it also includes some exemptions for 'cultural relics'.
ATG’s guide to the UK Ivory Ban
