PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Ivory: Trade (1 December 2016)

Officials discussed the closure of domestic ivory markets at the Conference of Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) that took place in Johannesburg from 24 September to 5 October. The issue has also been discussed at a number of EU-level CITES meetings.

In the UK, my predecessor Rory Stewart met, and officials have had a number of discussions with, representatives of the arts and antique sectors over the past 18 months to discuss issues surrounding the sale of ivory in the UK. Officials have also discussed the UK’s manifesto commitment to press for a total ban on ivory sales during regular CITES meetings with UK non-governmental organisations (NGOs), as well as bilaterally with individual and groups of interested NGOs.