ACTION TO TACKLE IVORY TRADE

That this House recognises that African elephants are facing an unprecedented crisis with an average of one killed every 15 minutes for its ivory; welcomes the action taken
internationally by the Government to combat the ivory trade and protect elephants in their natural habitat; further recognises that both the illegal ivory trade and the existence of legal domestic markets are helping to fuel this trade; notes that ivory, both legal and illegal, is being traded on a daily basis within the UK; further notes that illegal ivory items seized by police
and the Border Force in the UK has been falsely antiqued using artificial stains or ageing techniques, and are clearly destined for the legal antique market; notes that domestic ivory markets
are known to provide cover for the illegal trade in ivory and also reinforce the high value of ivory across and the world; notes that China has announced a domestic ivory trade ban by the end of 2017; and calls on the Government to press for a total ban on ivory sales and to close down the UK ivory market, including that of antique ivory, with immediate effect.