UK Ivory Bill Upheld at Appeal

[Update – September 2020] The path for appeal to the Supreme Court was denied in August 2020, with DEFRA consulting (opened 9 March 2021) on implementation of the Ivory Act (2018):

“In August a Defra spokesperson said: “We are committed to bringing the ivory ban into force as soon as practicable to help protect the world’s endangered species and halt biodiversity loss” – “Consultation will be final step before Ivory Act is law,” Antique Trade Gazette, 20 September 2020

[Update -May 2020] Seems like Friends of Antique Cultural Treasures (FACT) Ltd are putting aside the financial liability for unsuccessful past appeals and now proposing to double-down – “Supreme Court the final option in Ivory Act case,” Antiques Trade Gazette, 25 May 2020 – with FACT proposing to raise as much as £100,000 – to move its case to the Supreme Court:

Richard Pike, partner at Constantine Cannon, the law firm acting for FACT, said: “The Appeals judges basically agreed with the High Court judgment. It’s not what we hoped for, but it is what we expected” -which begs the question than how is an appeal to the Supreme Court likely to be successful?

“Three senior judges in the UK’s Court of Appeal yesterday (18 May) upheld the Ivory Act, dismissing an appeal by a group of antiques dealers whose judicial review claim had previously been dismissed by the High Court.

Four judges have now examined the Act – and all four have decided it is proportionate and lawful.

The Court of Appeal, headed by its most senior judge, Master of the Rolls Sir Terence Etherton, comprehensively rejected the antiques dealers’ arguments” – Andrew Brown, Lawyer & UK Ivory Trade Consultant, Environmental Investigation Agency – “Court verdict on UK Ivory Act appeal recognises country as a leader against illegal trade,” 19 May 2020

 

It’s been a long battle, but finally the UK’s part in perpetuating ivory worship/elephant death is coming to a long overdue end……thank you to all who fought for the Ivory Bill to be enacted in full!

 

“Dealing in items containing ivory or made of ivory,” Gov.uk, 16 March 2022

“From 6 June, you will not be able to deal in items containing or made of elephant ivory under the Ivory Act 2018 unless they are registered as exempt or certified as exempt.

References to ivory in this guidance means ivory from an elephant.”

“UK Ivory Bill – Appeal,” IWB, 24 February 2020

“UK Ivory Bill Challenge,” IWB, 19 October 2019

“UK Ivory Bill to Receive Royal Assent,” 8 December 2018

“UK Ivory Consultation,” 17 November 2017

Ivory Worship – “God’s Ivory” – Brent Stirton, Reportage by Getty Images, 2013