DEFRA

DEFRA, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, was formed in June 2001, becoming the government department responsible for policy and regulations in England, while also working with devolved agencies in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

It covers areas such as environment and countryside protection, agriculture, animal health and welfare, hunting, national parks and sustainable rural communities. It is the UK government’s department responsible for overseeing CITES regulation in the UK.


Scrimshaw

Government set to extend ivory ban to five other species

23 May 2023

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) announced the trade in ivory from hippopotamus, walrus, narwhal, killer whale and sperm whale will be protected under an extension to the Ivory Act in the UK.

CITES

Application system for CITES permits and licences goes digital

10 May 2023

Permits and licences for CITES will soon be moving to an online service.

Murshidabad chairs

Revealed: Ivory Act exemptions so far

27 March 2023

Following a Freedom of Information Request by Antiques Trade Gazette, the agency charged with administering The Ivory Act has issued some data on the controversial law.

Defra

Near-total ban on antique ivory comes into force

06 June 2022

The Ivory Act is now in force in the UK, bringing in a near-total ban on the sale of antique ivory.

Defra

Ivory Act goes live on June 6

30 May 2022

The Ivory Act, a near-total ban on the sale of antique ivory, comes into force in the UK on June 6.

Defra

Early June date set for Ivory Act to be enforced

17 March 2022

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced the Ivory Act 2018 will be enforced on June 6.

Register antique ivory now says Defra ahead of ban

07 March 2022

The digital registration service for exempted items containing ivory is now live and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is urging those wishing to sell items that qualify for one of these narrow exemptions to familiarise themselves with the new system.

Defra

Antique ivory trade ban now weeks away

14 February 2022

The near-total ban on the trade in antique ivory in the UK promised three years ago is just a matter of weeks away from enforcement.

Defra

Government undertakes Ivory Act survey for “awareness campaign”

12 January 2022

The government has launched a survey for dealers and auction house specialists to help develop an awareness campaign on the Ivory Act.

Defra

Ivory Act faces final consultation ahead of ‘spring 2022’ enforcement

13 September 2021

The final consultation on the Ivory Act has been launched ahead of the near-total ivory ban coming into force in spring 2022.

Defra

Government launches consultation on extending antique ivory ban to hippos, narwhals, walruses and whales

20 July 2021

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched a consultation on extending the near-total ban on the antique ivory trade.

Defra sign

Consultation on exemption process for Ivory Act launched

10 March 2021

The UK Government has launched a consultation on how exemptions to allow the trade in some items under the Ivory Act will be implemented and processed.

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Appeal to stop Ivory Act dismissed in latest court action

18 May 2020

Court of Appeal judges have dismissed the latest attempt to stop the Ivory Act.

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Legal bid to stop Ivory Act fails – but dealers and collectors are considering an appeal

05 November 2019

A High Court challenge by dealers and collectors to a new UK law ushering in a near-total ban on the antique ivory has failed, but an appeal is possible.

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Government increases number of ports for CITES-listed natural history specimens ahead of no-deal Brexit

19 September 2019

Defra has added Dover and the Eurotunnel to the list of ports that will accept the import and export of CITES-listed natural history specimens.

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Antiques firms urged to register for EU trade permit as potential no-deal Brexit looms

03 September 2019

Trade associations are urging their members to apply for the required permit to continue importing and exporting with EU countries following Brexit on October 31.

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Fresh government warning ahead of Brexit for import and export of CITES-listed natural history specimens

22 August 2019

Defra has issued a fresh warning for the antiques trade on the import and export of CITES-listed natural history specimens ahead of Brexit.

Thérèse Coffey

Consultation on the trade in non-elephant ivory launched by government

30 May 2019

A consultation into the trade of non-elephant ivory has been launched to find out whether the government should take further action to restrict the trade in ivory.

Crosby Garrett Roman helmet

Government strengthens law to protect treasure finds

01 February 2019

The government is proposing to strengthen the Treasure Act to include important finds that do not fit the current legal definition.

Parliament

Industry bodies urge collectors and trade to take part in survey on economic impact of Ivory Act

29 January 2019

Industry trade bodies are today launching a survey that will attempt to measure the financial impact of the Ivory Act (2018) which comes into force later this year. Collectors, dealers and auctioneers of antique ivory are being encouraged to take part.

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