Eastleigh MP Mims Davies, who formerly worked alongside Ministers at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, has welcomed the introduction of new Ivory trade laws.
The law banning the sales of ivory in the UK was introduced this week, being one of the last pieces of legislation to be signed into law before the New Year, and helping to stop the devastating decline in the number of elephants in the wild.
Commenting, Eastleigh MP Mims Davies said:
“Hundreds of my constituents have written to me to say that the Government must take action to stop the disgusting ivory trade that is destroying species around the world, including our wonderful elephant population.
“Further to my lobbying alongside constituents, my parliamentary colleagues and both national and global organisations – with some Royal supporters! -, key legislation was introduced which I was fortunate enough to work on during my time at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, making the UK one of the Global leaders on this critical issue. The example we set will surely increase the number of countries worldwide that take up our call to action against the exploitation of the elephants in the wild and stopping the ivory trade from claiming the lives of around 20,000 elephants each year.
“We in the UK are to be the shining global example against animal cruelty of all types, and this will undoubtedly spur more nations to join us against the horrific treatment of these animals."
The measures taken will be some of the toughest in the world, with offenders punished by up to five years in prison or an unlimited fine.
During October 2018, the Environment Secretary, Michael Gove also launched a coalition of political leaders, conservationists and celebrities dedicated to defeating the illegal trade in ivory and establishing ivory sales bans in other countries around the globe, which has been called the Ivory Alliance 2024.