Public consultation
On 6 October 2017, Environment Secretary Michael Gove announced a consultation on proposals to ban ivory sales in the UK to help bring an end to elephant poaching, which is driven primarily by consumer demand for ivory and speculative acquisition of ivory items. The Government’s proposals for an ivory sales ban were subject to a 12 week public consultation, which ran from 6 October 2017 to 29 December 2017.
	The consultation put forward proposals to implement a ban on ivory sales in the UK, and to prohibit the import and re-export of ivory for sale to and from the UK, including intra-EU trade to and from the UK, where such sales could contribute either directly or indirectly to the poaching of elephants. Four categories of exemption to this ban were proposed, and views sought as to their validity and the parameters of any final exemptions. The consultation also sought evidence from respondents as to the size and value of the market for ivory items in the UK, and the impact of a sales ban on conservation, businesses and private individuals. Views were sought as to the compliance, enforcement and sanctions arrangements the Government should introduce in order to implement a ban. The measures proposed would not affect the ownership of ivory items.
	In total 71,238 responses to the consultation were received and analysed, with 88% of respondents supporting a ban on ivory sales. The evidence received through the consultation exercise, as well as that received through other sources and engagement with stakeholders, informed the final scope of the UK ivory ban to be implemented through the Ivory Act 2018 ("the Act").