HC Deb 15 March 1989 vol 149 c237W
71. Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to ban all imports of elephant ivory.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

Imports of ivory are controlled under EC Regulation 3626/82 which implements CITES in the Community. The European Commission has suggested measures to encourage African states to comply with the existing strict controls and to develop management programmes. These proposals were welcomed by the Council of Ministers on 2 March.