eBay Bans Int'l Ivory Trade

By Staff -- Gifts & Decorative Accessories, 6/5/2007 10:30:00 AM

The Hague, Netherlands – Ebony, yes. Ivory, no. Today e-commerce site eBay will ban international (between countries) trade in elephant ivory on all of its sites around the world. The decision follows an eight-country international investigation by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) of ivory for sale on eBay sites. In a February survey, IFAW found that 94 percent of elephant ivory for sale on eBay was potentially illegal. IFAW also found that eBay policies varied from country to country and were often vague and not enforced.  In addition to the between-countries ban, eBay also plans to institute clearer and stricter policies for in-country trade.

Peter Pueschel, IFAW head of Global Program Against Wildlife Trade, said in a statement, “IFAW believes that this is an important step forward, but that a total ban is ultimately needed, and we will continue to work with eBay and others to implement this.”