China imposes total ban on elephant ivory sales
Online and overseas purchases also forbidden as Beijing tries to stamp out market for the products
China’s complete ban on ivory trade went into effect on Sunday, officials said, a major step forward in Beijing’s efforts to rein in what was once the world’s biggest market for illegal ivory.
“From today … the buying and selling of elephant ivory and goods by any market, shop or vendor is against the law!” the forestry ministry said on its official account on Chinese social media platform Weibo.
“From now on, if a merchant tells you ‘this is a state-approved ivory dealer’ … he is duping you and knowingly violating the law.”
China’s ivory ban gains public support as country looks to stamp out domestic trade by the end of the year
The ministry added that the ban also applied to online sales and souvenirs bought abroad.
According to state-run Xinhua, a partial ban had already resulted in an 80 per cent fall in seizures of ivory entering China. Domestic prices for raw ivory were down 65 per cent, it said.
The total domestic ban was announced at the end of last year.
