The United States finalizes a near-total ban on the trade of African elephant ivory (AFP Photo/Tony Karumba) |
Washington
(AFP) - The US authorities announced a near-total ban on the trade of African
elephant ivory on Thursday, finalizing a years-long push to protect the
endangered animals.
Conservation
groups welcomed the move, which aims to reduce the slaughter of more than
35,000 of Africa's 450,000 elephants estimated to be killed each year, mainly
for ivory.
"Today's
bold action underscores the United States' leadership and commitment to ending
the scourge of elephant poaching and the tragic impact it's having on wild
populations," Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell said.
US Interior
Secretary Sally Jewell,
pictured on April 19, 2016, announced
new rules to
limit imports, exports and
sales of African elephant ivory (AFP
Photo/Alex
Wong)
|
But the
move to restrict the African ivory market in the United States -- the world’s
second-largest consumer of illegal ivory after China -- comes with notable
exemptions, including for documented antiques.
The final
rule, which takes effect July 6, "substantially limits" imports,
exports and sales of such ivory across state lines, the US Fish and Wildlife
Service (FWS) said.
While
prohibiting most commerce, it does make exceptions for some "pre-existing
manufactured" items, including musical instruments, furniture and firearms
that contain less than 200 grams of ivory and meet other specific criteria,
according to the FWS statement announcing the rule.
Antiques,
as defined under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), are also exempt.
"Antique" items are at least 100 years old and meet several
additional requirements.
Under
Thursday's final rule, the import of sport-hunted trophies is limited to two
per year.
People will
also be allowed to keep lawfully acquired ivory and are not banned from
donating, giving away or receiving ivory as a gift "provided it was
lawfully acquired and there is no exchange for other goods or services
involved," the FWS said.
"Limited
exceptions" to the ban on import and export of African elephant ivory will
also apply to items that are part of a traveling exhibition or "are part
of a household move or inheritance when specific criteria are met" as well
as "ivory for law enforcement or genuine scientific purposes," the
rule said.
'Blood
ivory'
The new
measures fulfill restrictions in an executive order on combating wildlife
trafficking President Barack Obama issued in 2013, the FWS said.
Once
illegal ivory enters the market, it becomes virtually impossible to tell apart
from legal ivory, it said, adding that demand for elephant ivory, particularly
in Asia, "is so great that it grossly outstrips the legal supply and
creates a void in the marketplace that ivory traffickers are eager to
fill."
Graphic
showing the illegal trade in ivory in Africa (AFP Photo/Jean
Michel Cornu,
Nicholas MC Anally)
|
The
outlawed ivory trade is mostly fueled by demand in Asia and the Middle East,
where elephant tusks and rhino horns are used in traditional medicine and for
ornaments.
"We
hope other nations will act quickly and decisively to stop the flow of blood
ivory by implementing similar regulations, which are crucial to ensuring our
grandchildren and their children know these iconic species," Jewell said.
The
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) welcomed the final rule, calling it
historic and groundbreaking.
"The
USA is boldly saying to ivory poachers: You are officially out of
business," WCS president and chief executive Cristian Samper -- a member
of an Obama task force on wildlife trafficking -- said in a statement.
Patrick
Bergin, chief executive of the US-based African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), also
praised the move.
"Strong
laws around wildlife crime and strong enforcement of those laws are absolutely
critical in deterring traffickers and poachers," he told AFP.
"All
countries -- and especially those that are source, transit or destination
countries for illegal wildlife products -- have a role to play in tidying their
own house."
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