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Loxodonta africana African elephant Adult bull drinking Sub-Sarahan Africa © Martin Harvey / WWF

Update: online ivory trade in Japan

Loxodonta africana African elephant Adult bull drinking Sub-Sarahan Africa © Martin Harvey / WWF

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Published 8 August 2017

TRAFFIC surveys find thousands of ivory items sold weekly online in Japan

Tokyo, Japan, 8th August 2017—TRAFFIC surveys of Japan’s online domestic ivory markets in 2017 have found high volumes of sales across online shopping malls, auction sites and emerging CtoC (Customer to Customer) websites, with thousands of advertisements posted every week. The significant number of ivory products being offered and traded online in Japan is of concern.

Update: online ivory trade in Japan

Report author(s):
Tomomi Kitade

Publication date:
August 2017


Notes:

[1] The Law for the Conservation of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora(LCES). LCES prohibits the domestic trade of “International Endangered Species”—species listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), with an exception for specimens registered with the government with a proof of legal import. However, for ivory this regulation applies only to whole tusks—other ivory products are exempted, requiring neither registration nor any other proof of legality.

[2] Rakuten, Inc. recently announced a ban on sales of ivory and products made from bekko (Hawksbill Turtle shell) on 1st July 2017.