Dutch To Ban Raw Ivory Sales From 2019
Faizan Hashmi Published December 17, 2018 | 07:28 PM
The Netherlands said Monday it will ban all raw ivory sales from next year, as it unveiled the results of a major operation to combat trafficking in endangered animals and plants.
Currently Dutch law permits the sale of raw ivory such as elephant tusks with an EU certificate, provided it entered the country between 1947 and 1990.
"From March 1, 2019... the sale of raw ivory from and in The Netherlands will no longer be possible," Dutch Agriculture and Nature Affairs Minister Carola Schouten said.
"This measure comes because with raw ivory it's very hard to tell the old from the new," Schouten said in a letter to parliament.
The old rule came into force shortly after international trade in ivory was banned in 1989 by CITES, the global conference that governs wildlife trade.
Ivory imported into the country before 1947 needed no such certificate, the NOS public broadcaster said.
"But recently acquired ivory is often 'aged', for instance by using tea leaves and sold on (Dutch online classified advertising site) Marktplaats," it added.
By banning all sales of raw ivory, "we are undercutting illegal practices," Schouten said.
The minister also unveiled the results of a two-month operation by police, customs and food watchdog officials aimed at intercepting endangered species brought into the country illegally.
"Operation Toucan" from September to November saw officials seize thousands of cacti from Panama and Peru without proper import papers as well as a range of exotic animals.
This included six boa constrictors, sent by mail from the United States, a pencilled marmoset and a capuchin monkey which were kept as pets and two dead toucans sent from Uruguay, the minister said.
Dutch police and inspectors also confiscated seven kilogrammes of ivory at a collectors' fair in the central city of Utrecht.
CITES said last year elephant poaching was declining in Africa but that seizures of illegal ivory were hitting record highs.
In 2016 some 40 tonnes of illegal ivory were seized, the most since 1989, as well as the highest number of "large-scale ivory seizures," the group said.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Punjab CM inaugurates Pakistan’s first Virtual Women Police Station
Dutch model Donny Roelvink embraces Islam
Experts raise concerns over introduction of 10-stick packs
Iranian president arrives in Karachi
Law Minister expresses Govt's resolve to address issue of missing persons
Rizwan’s batting order may be changed: Sources
Nawaz Sharif to visit Guangzhou exhibition in China
FM Dar not traveling to China: Foreign Office
PM takes notice of deliberate delay in tax cases
Iranian President visits Allama Iqbal’s mausoleum
Iranian President arrives in Lahore today
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 23 April 2024
More Stories From World
-
Migrant boat capsizes off Djibouti leaving 21 dead
60 minutes ago -
Tesla profits tumble 55% as EV sales under pressure
60 minutes ago -
Talks on global plastic treaty begin in Canada
2 hours ago -
Migrant deportations loom after parliament passes UK-Rwanda plan
2 hours ago -
Macron in last-ditch bid to halt EU vote battering
2 hours ago -
Ukraine moves to bring military-aged men home to fight
3 hours ago
-
Asia hit hardest by climate change, extreme weather: UN weather agency
4 hours ago -
Muscles and masterpieces: Louvre offers Olympic sport sessions
4 hours ago -
Migrant boat capsizes off Djibouti leaving 16 dead
4 hours ago -
UK Rwanda law sparks fear among migrants hoping to cross Channel
6 hours ago -
China issues highest-level rainstorm warning after deadly floods
6 hours ago -
UK's Sunak announces raised defence spending, new Ukraine aid
6 hours ago