Weak Japanese ivory controls fatal to elephants
30 May 2007
(The Hague, Netherlands) An investigative report conducted by IFAW into Japan’s domestic ivory trade controls has uncovered significant and numerous loopholes in the Japanese system that allow illegal ivory to be laundered into the legal domestic ivory market.
The results of the report, “Fatal
Flaw: The Inadequacies of Japan’s Ivory Trade Controls” challenge the CITES
Standing Committee decision to designate Japan as a trading partner for the
one-off sale of 60 tonnes of stockpiled ivory approved at the 12th Conference of
the Parties in 2002.
At CITES’ 54th Standing Committee meeting in October 2006, delegates and conservation organisations were caught off-guard by a last-minute decision recommending Japan as buyer for the stockpiles. This decision was made without the knowledge of a recent 2.8 tonne seizure of contraband ivory in Osaka in August 2006, which the Japanese did not disclose until after the meeting.
Final approval of Japan as a destination for the stockpiles will be dependent upon the Secretariat’s own verification report to be presented at SC55, which convenes this Saturday 2nd June.
One of the major weaknesses in the Japanese system disclosed by the IFAW report is the absence of compliance and oversight. According to the report, 64 percent of ivory dealers in Tokyo and 58 percent of dealers in Yamanashi failed to comply with the governmental regulation requiring registration for all ivory dealers. Another survey conducted by the Japan Wildlife Conservation Society between October 2003 and January 2005 revealed that an incredible 90 percent of dealers selling ivory hanko (traditional personal seals required for most official documents) lacked the certification required by Japanese law. The quantity of ivory seized in Osaka represents approximately 56,000 hankos.
Another loophole exists in the regulations for private ownership, as controls for ivory as personal property are non-existent. Given that approximately three tonnes of registered tusks are introduced into the domestic market annually, this provides an enormous opportunity for criminals to launder illegal ivory into legal stocks.
The antique market in ivory presents another opportunity for laundering illegal ivory, both domestically and internationally, as does trade via the Internet. According to the IFAW report, some antique dealers appear to be selling relatively new ivory items, and there also appears to be a link to the illegal ivory trade in the Chinese market.
“Japan’s complacency in controlling the illegal trade in ivory and its enthusiasm for ivory status symbols have real and tragic consequences, says Peter Pueschel, Programme Manager for IFAW’s Wildlife Trade campaign. “The slaughter of seven rangers in Africa last week is just the most recent example of how demand for ivory motivates illegal activity. A total ban on all ivory trade is the only way to work towards protecting both elephants and human populations,” he added.
Over 26 tonnes of elephant ivory was seized between August 2005 and August 2006, which is the highest annual seizure rate witnessed since the 1989 CITES ban went into effect. In addition, enforcement authorities estimate that nearly 90 per cent of contraband slips through controls undetected.
Kenya and Mali have submitted a proposal to CITES for a 20-year moratorium on all ivory, and are currently backed by 10 African elephant range states, as well as additional countries.
The moratorium would not effect the stockpile sales approved in 2002.
At CITES’ 54th Standing Committee meeting in October 2006, delegates and conservation organisations were caught off-guard by a last-minute decision recommending Japan as buyer for the stockpiles. This decision was made without the knowledge of a recent 2.8 tonne seizure of contraband ivory in Osaka in August 2006, which the Japanese did not disclose until after the meeting.
Final approval of Japan as a destination for the stockpiles will be dependent upon the Secretariat’s own verification report to be presented at SC55, which convenes this Saturday 2nd June.
One of the major weaknesses in the Japanese system disclosed by the IFAW report is the absence of compliance and oversight. According to the report, 64 percent of ivory dealers in Tokyo and 58 percent of dealers in Yamanashi failed to comply with the governmental regulation requiring registration for all ivory dealers. Another survey conducted by the Japan Wildlife Conservation Society between October 2003 and January 2005 revealed that an incredible 90 percent of dealers selling ivory hanko (traditional personal seals required for most official documents) lacked the certification required by Japanese law. The quantity of ivory seized in Osaka represents approximately 56,000 hankos.
Another loophole exists in the regulations for private ownership, as controls for ivory as personal property are non-existent. Given that approximately three tonnes of registered tusks are introduced into the domestic market annually, this provides an enormous opportunity for criminals to launder illegal ivory into legal stocks.
The antique market in ivory presents another opportunity for laundering illegal ivory, both domestically and internationally, as does trade via the Internet. According to the IFAW report, some antique dealers appear to be selling relatively new ivory items, and there also appears to be a link to the illegal ivory trade in the Chinese market.
“Japan’s complacency in controlling the illegal trade in ivory and its enthusiasm for ivory status symbols have real and tragic consequences, says Peter Pueschel, Programme Manager for IFAW’s Wildlife Trade campaign. “The slaughter of seven rangers in Africa last week is just the most recent example of how demand for ivory motivates illegal activity. A total ban on all ivory trade is the only way to work towards protecting both elephants and human populations,” he added.
Over 26 tonnes of elephant ivory was seized between August 2005 and August 2006, which is the highest annual seizure rate witnessed since the 1989 CITES ban went into effect. In addition, enforcement authorities estimate that nearly 90 per cent of contraband slips through controls undetected.
Kenya and Mali have submitted a proposal to CITES for a 20-year moratorium on all ivory, and are currently backed by 10 African elephant range states, as well as additional countries.
The moratorium would not effect the stockpile sales approved in 2002.
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