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eBay bans ivory
By: Chantal Cooke
(The Hague, Netherlands – 5 June 2007) – International online commerce site eBay has today said that it will announce a ban on the international trade of elephant ivory on all of its sites around the globe, creating the first-ever online international trade ban of elephant ivory. This decision follows an eight-country international investigation by IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare – www.ifaw.org) of ivory for sale on eBay sites, and face-to-face meetings between IFAW and eBay senior officials in the U.S. and across Europe. This announcement comes as more than 170 nations convene in The Hague for the 14th meeting of the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) to consider a twenty-year elephant ivory trade moratorium.
In its survey carried out in February 2007, IFAW found that 94% of elephant ivory for sale on eBay sites was potentially illegal. The report also found that eBay policies varied from country to country and were often vague and not enforced.
In its announcement, eBay stated that in addition to the ban of international trade (trade between nations), that clearer and stricter policies would be implemented on a national level for in-country trade.
Robbie Marsland, UK Director of IFAW, said of the news: “It is fantastic news that eBay - the world’s largest online shop window – has moved to protect elephants from the international illegal ivory trade. However, IFAW believes that while this is an important step forward, a total ban across all eBay sites is ultimately needed to send a clear message to consumers and to simplify enforcement. We will continue to work to ensure eBay users are not bidding for the extinction of the world’s largest land mammal.”
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