| Measures to control trade in worked ivory |
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| Written by Staff Reporters | |
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A temporary ban on ivory trade has been passed by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism as the country makes efforts to tighten measures of trading in ivory as set out by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
The announcement was made by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Kalumbi Shangula this week.
“We have to strengthen control measures in ivory trade
to abide by provisions of the Convention In Trade International Trade
in Endangered Species (CITES), which requires specific legislation,”
Shangula told reporters. “And until that is in place, dealing in ivory
products will be prohibited.”
The temporary ban includes sale of ivory jewellery until a new law is in place to control such trade, Shangula said. “The temporary moratorium will start on September 1 until the Controlled Wildlife Products Bill is enacted,” he said, adding that the bill would be tabled in parliament in September. He said the ministry has had to deal with newly carved cultural objects from ivory of unknown origins, but the ministry wants to establish a legal trade in the cultural objects carved from ivory supplied by the ministry. All outlets and street vendors selling ivory products in Namibia would be required to register with the ministry and maintain comprehensive records on each item, said Shangula. He said the registration would be valid for a year, and renewal is conditional on compliance with all control measures established. |
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