MEPs call for total ban on ivory trade

Date: 23/03/2000

By Gareth Harding

MEPS and animal welfare groups are stepping up pressure on EU governments to support a total ban on the trade in ivory at an international meeting next month.

But their hopes are likely to be dashed, with most member states expected to back the European Commission in supporting a limited trade in African elephant tusks.

Signatories to the convention on the international trade in endangered species (CITES) agreed to an experimental partial lifting of the ban in 1997, on condition that the traffic was closely monitored.

Animal welfare groups claim this has led to an increase in poaching, but the Commission argues it will be impossible to judge its impact until a proper monitoring system has been set up. The institution's development department is drawing up a proposal to part-finance such a system.

The European Parliament last week called on member states to ban all trade in elephant tusks. Dutch Green MEP Alexander de Roo, vice-chairman of the assembly's environment committee, said it was "impossible to control the trade because there is no way of distinguishing between the legal and illegal traffic".

EU environment ministers will decide what stance the Union should take at the CITES conference in Kenya at a meeting next Thursday (30 March). The host country and India are behind a motion calling for the trade to be outlawed but some countries, including Botswana and Namibia, argue that it should be extended to include South African elephants. The EU will oppose this, but is likely to abstain from proposals to protect elephants fully.

Lesley O' Donnell of the International Fund for Animal Welfare accused the Commission of "copping-out of the elephant debate" by planning to adopt a neutral stance in crucial votes.

MEPs and animal welfare groups are stepping up pressure on EU governments to support a total ban on the trade in ivory at the CITES conference in Kenya in April. But their hopes are likely to be dashed, with most Member States expected to back the European Commission in supporting a limited trade in African elephant tusks.