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SINGAPORE: The public has been invited to make its point of view known on a proposal to ban the sale of ivory elephant and ivory products to Singapore.
A one – month public consultation was launched Tuesday, November 27th by the Agri – Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) to gather public feedback on the subject.
"The proposed ban is in line with Singapore's broader commitment to combat the illegal trade in elephant ivory and support elephant conservation," he said. said AVA.
READ: Ivory store slammed as part of WWF's campaign to raise awareness of wildlife laws in Singapore
"The total ban" of the local sale of elephant ivory will be governed by the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act, added AVA.
This means that businesses and individuals will no longer be able to buy or sell all forms of elephant ivory products in Singapore and that public displays of these products will also not be allowed.
The only exception will be the presentation of ivory and ivory products for educational purposes in places such as zoos and museums.
Singapore has banned local sales of rhinoceros and tiger specimens since 2006.
A grace period of up to three years will be granted to those affected by the ban on ivory in order to decide what they wish to do with their ivory stockpiles elephant and existing ivory products.
"Local businesses and people with ivory can consider keeping, donating or destroying ivory," AVA said.
Singapore is currently party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This means that Singapore prohibits international trade in all forms of elephant ivory products since 1990.
However, domestic trade is still allowed if traders show that their items were imported before 1990 or were acquired prior to the inclusion of the relevant elephant species in CITES.
Since then, CITES has urged countries to consider also banning domestic trade. Countries such as China, Hong Kong, the United States and the United Kingdom have taken stricter measures to combat the domestic trade in elephant ivory.
The Singapore government had previously indicated that it was considering banning the sale of ivory and that details of implementation were being developed.
The sale of ivory products became a hot topic among Singaporeans in August when an online store was criticized for "selling" ivory accessories of the time.
It was later revealed that the store was part of a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) campaign to raise public awareness of "gaps" in local wildlife protection laws.
There have also been cases where ivory products worth several million were smuggled into Singapore.
During the public consultation in Singapore, those wishing to make their point of view known to AVA can send an e-mail to the authority at the following address: [email protected]. Members of the public can also send a letter to:
Agribusiness and Veterinary Authority (Head Office)
JEM office tower, 52 Jurong Gateway Road
# 14-01, Singapore 608550
(Attention: QIG / Wildlife – Public Consultation)
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