China Ivory Imports - The Chinese State Forestry Administration has instituted a ban on the importation of ivory in a bid to support efforts aimed at curbing rampant poaching and boosting elephant population in Africa.
The ban, which takes effect on Thursday, comes amid criticisms that the growing Chinese middle class is fuelling the killing of thousands of elephants yearly for their tusks.
In modern times, China is one of the main destinations for most legal and illegally acquired ivory products across the world. Like most countries, China is a signatory of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). But while other nations have stringent laws banning the sale of ivory, it continues to be sold legally in a few licensed shops in China. Experts say this has supported the existence of a black market for ivory products in the country.
Since the Chinese government acquired more than 60 tonnes of ivory nearly a decade ago, experts say interest in elephant tusks has spiked in the country and this is threatening the population of elephants in Africa.
An unidentified Chinese official told Legal Evening News that the ban of the importation of ivory into China for a year is expected to protect wild elephants by reducing the demand for their tusks in the world's largest market for this product. He added that officials would evaluate the effectiveness of the ban before looking to try other measures.
In recent years the Chinese government has stepped up its crackdown on the sale of ivory illegally. Several tons of ivory retrieved by custom officials in the country have been destroyed. Each legally sold ivory in China has a unique photo ID, according to Xinhua.
While many activists have applauded the move by Chinese authorities to ban the importation of ivory for a year, others have questioned the effectiveness of the directive given that the gestation period for elephants is about 2 years.
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