Impact of UK Ivory Act 2018

In June 2022, IFAW welcomed the Government announcement making it illegal to trade elephant ivory items in the United Kingdom (UK), except for very limited exemptions. Those breaking the law face prosecution and a fine of up to £250,000 or up to five years imprisonment.

IFAW commissioned an independent researcher, MK Wildlife Consultancy, in 2021 and 2023 to assess the effectiveness of the Ivory Act. It analysed the quantity of ivory being sold in the UK on online platforms and social media, before and after the Act came into force. The surveys also recorded which ivory-bearing species the advertised items came from, rather than just focusing on elephant ivory.