An idea that began life with Conservative government manifesto pledges in 2010 and 2015 for a total ban on the UK trade in ivory finally took shape last week.
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) announced that it intends to introduce legislation that will prohibit the trade in ivory of any age in the UK, with narrow exemptions, after a public consultation in late 2017.
The ban will build upon, rather than replace, current CITES rules.