Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is conducting Consultations with industry to share their views and ideas on the trade controls in elephant ivory in Canada. The Consultation is open from July 24, 201 to September 22, 2021.
Environment and Climate Change Canada is seeking your comments on a range of potential actions that could be implemented to increase trade controls in elephant ivory. Comments received will be considered in the development of Canadian actions to address global concerns in elephant ivory trade.
Actions could range from maintaining the current levels of control, to changes to policy and procedures for permitting trade or to amendments to the Act or Regulations (Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA)/Wild Animal and Plant Trade Regulations (WAPTR)) to further increase controls in elephant ivory trade.
Trade in African and Asian elephants and their parts is regulated internationally through the CITES. CITES is an international agreement that aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
In addition to fulfilling its obligations on the trade of elephant ivory under CITES, Canada currently requires the issuance of an import permit for all Appendix I elephant ivory, including pre-convention ivory, before import into Canada can occur.
In Canada, CITES is implemented through the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA) and the Wild Animal and Plant Trade Regulations (WAPTR). WAPPRIITA/WAPTR regulate imports and exports to and from Canada and interprovincial/territorial transport of certain wildlife species.
Elephant ivory imported into Canada includes antique pianos, bagpipes, chess sets and carvings as commercial or non-commercial trade. Legal, non-commercial trade could include elephant ivory moving between countries as part of a household move such as a piano with elephant ivory keys, elephant ivory tusks acquired in a legal hunt, and elephant ivory used for scientific research. A smaller portion of Canada’s legal, non-commercial ivory trade includes hunting trophies that originate from legal, sustainable harvest of African elephant populations.
Additional measures that the Government of Canada could consider relate to commercial and non-commercial trade. Examples include an import or re-export prohibition for elephant ivory for commercial purposes regardless of its age, a restriction of allowable movement of personal elephant ivory items that are part of a household move, and a prohibition of all hunting trophy imports.
More information is found in the Discussion document: range of potential actions pertaining to trade controls in elephant ivory in Canada and Consultations to share your thoughts
Learn more on international trade in protected animals and plants and CBSA Memoranda D19-7-1 Interpretation of the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
Please send your input and comments on the consultation to the following e-mail address: ReglementsFaune-WildlifeRegulations@ec.gc.ca.
Contact information
Moira Kelly
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
819-271-6218
moira.kelly@ec.gc.ca
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Canadian Wildlife Service
E-mail: ReglementsFaune-WildlifeRegulations@ec.gc.ca