The UK Ivory bill became an Act on 20th December 2018, and as soon as it passes into law (expected late 2019) all owners of elephant ivory-tipped bows for stringed instruments will have to first register their bows and then obtain permits in order for them to be allowed to be sold outside the UK (or outside Europe if Brexit does not occur). To obtain these permissions, owners will need to provide proof, which is often difficult to obtain, that their bows were made before 1975.

Accurate information is difficult to come by because of the changing situation. However, the International Federation of Musicians (FIM) and the PEARLE (Performing Arts Employers’ Associations League Europe) has produced a handbook, with support from the European Commission, which provides reliable information given the circumstances as they presently stand.

An urgent message from Paul Bleazard at DEFRA about possible implications of a no-deal Brexit.

Guidance which set out how people who trade in, or travel with, endangered animals or plants, or their products, would be affected if the UK leaves the EU in March 2019 without a deal is available here 

Over the last year or so, British, European and International regulations on endangered species have been in the spotlight. During the last General Election, following Prince William’s public statements on elephant conservation and ivory artefacts in the Royal Collections, the UK Conservative Party made the abolition of the trade in ivory one of their manifesto pledges, meaning that they have had to organise a Parliamentary Select Committee to look at the issue.