The purpose of the Act is to prohibit commercial activities concerning ivory in the United Kingdom and the import and re-export of ivory for commercial purposes to and from the UK, including intra-EU trade to and from the UK. It takes into account the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Resolution 10.10 (Rev COP17) on Trade in Elephant Specimens. This non-binding resolution recommended that all Parties and non-Parties in whose jurisdiction there is a legal domestic market for ivory items that is contributing to poaching or illegal trade should take all necessary measures to close their domestic ivory markets as a matter of urgency. The EU (Withdrawal) Act 2018 allows for the full conversion of EU Regulations on ivory trade into UK law. The UK Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations 2018 (COTES) make provision for enforcement of the European Regulations. "Backstop dates" are applied to the exemptions included within the Act to make sure modern ivory items are not permitted under the exemptions and that the UK ivory ban is at least as strong as or stronger than existing EU regulations. The EU Wildlife Regulations will continue to apply to the import and export of ivory to and from the UK, and alongside the exemptions in the Act.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland · 2018-12-20