With 20 - thousand African elephants killed for their ivory every year, the UK government has revealed plans for a near - total ban on the domestic ivory trade in Britain. The proposed new legislation would bring Britain more in line with China, the US, France and Canada. However, as Richard Bestic reports, not everyone is entirely happy with the government's plan.  

 

RICHARD BESTIC LONDON As the law stands at the moment, in Britain it's perfectly legal to sell antique worked - ivory items. If they were made after 1947, they must be sold with a certificate proving their age. There's a total ban on raw ivory coming into the country, but the current law makes Britain a major player in international trade and the rules are cheated. Now the government has apparently bowed to the voice of environmental campaigners and indeed the Queen's grandson Prince William, a long - term campaigner against the ivory trade. The proposed new legislation would ban ivory trading regardless of age, with the exceptions of musical instruments; items containing only a small proportion of ivory - like inlaid furniture; items of significant cultural value and sales between museums. The three months of government consultation with conservation groups will focus on possible loopholes in the proposed new rules. Change would be in line with public opinion in Britain, according to pollsters hugely in favour of a ban. And the proposals have been cautiously welcomed by environmentalists, who point to the need for speed to save Africa's dwindling elephant population. However, some antique traders say a ban on worked - ivory from before 1947 will not save a single living elephant today. RB CGTN London.