Photo taken on 29 may 2015 in a spectacular operation to destroy Beijing’s defenses burned, sticks in carved ivory and other ivory ornate (Photo FRED DUFOUR. AFP)
The total ban on ivory trade came into force on Sunday in China, formerly the first destination market for the tusks for smuggling.
“From today, the purchase and sale of ivory and products of ivory by the markets, the shops and the traders is out-of-the-law”, said the ministry of Forests on her account Weibo.
“From now on, if a dealer tells you that it is a +seller d’ivoire approved by the State+ he is cheating on you and violates the law knowingly”, he added.
The ministry said that the ban also covers e-commerce and on the souvenirs purchased abroad.
The agency official new China news says that a partial ban on the ivory trade had already resulted in a decrease of 80% of the ivory seized entering the country. The price in China of raw ivory are also reduced by 65%, according to the agency.
The total ban had been announced at the end of 2016.
China news had reported in march that 67 workshops and stores involved in the ivory trade had closed. 105 other are expected to close Sunday.
Beijing had already decided in march 2016 to extend the ban on the import of ivory and its products acquired before 1975.
The ivory is highly sought after in China, where he was able to reach up to 1.050 euros per kilo, being considered as the symbol of high social status. The strong demand in the country has fuelled the slaughter of tens of thousands of pachyderms african per year.
Poaching has seen the elephant population drop in ten years from 110,000 animals to 415.000, according to the international Union for the conservation of nature.
