Registration of ivory tusks and ivory products starts today



BANGKOK: -- Owners of ivory tusks and ivory products today flock to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation in Bangkok and related offices in upcountry provinces to have their valuables registered as required by the Ivory Tusks Act.

People who have in their possession ivory tusks and ivory products before the enforcement of the act are required to register within 90 days of the enforcement of the law but not after April 21 otherwise they may face a fine of not exceeding three million baht.

And those who possess ivory tusks and ivory products after the enforcement of the law are required to make registration within 30 days of their possession. Failure to do so may face a fine of not exceeding three million baht.

Those who own the products for non-commercial purpose not exceeding four pieces per person and not exceeding 12 pieces per household can skip the registration but such products cannot be sold or transferred to the other people unless they are inherited.

As for traders, exporters and importers in ivory products, they must ask for permission before starting trading. Failure to do so may face three years imprisonment and/or a fine of six million baht. Once permission is granted, the traders can start trading but they are required to keep records of their acquisition of ivory tusks, processing of the tusks and trade transactions.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/registration-ivory-tusks-ivory-products-starts-today


-- Thai PBS 2015-02-02

Flew into Bangers on Friday and they have signs up all over the airport about the new ivory laws and the tourists responsibilities under these laws. Unfortunately since I use the express service I was wisked straight past them so was not able to read the whole message!!

Yesterday on a market in BKK i saw elephanttusks for sale, how can one see if the vendor has legal ones? Where can we report illegal sellers?

It is encouraging to see that some move is being taken, registering the population is a task bound to lead to disappointment , however it fails to meet the proper requirement and that is you are still registering commercial outlets to sell Ivory , until you make a clean break away from this mentality all you are saying is we support the sale of ivory in a controlled manner , that in itself suggests that Thailand has no intention of banning the ivory trade, besides it being open to corruption and no transparency, this poor attempt at pleasing the UN doesn't help the Elephant.

Registration of ivory 'aimed at killing trade in African tusks'
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- A NEW LAW requiring people who own locally sourced ivory to register with the government is meant to separate them from people who own ivory from Africa, Nipon Chotibal, director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), said yesterday.

This separation will make it easier for the DNP to crack down on people who smuggle African ivory, he said, adding that people who own ivory from Africa can register in a 90-day period starting from March 14.

Owners of locally sourced ivory have until April 21 to register at the Phairoj Suwannakorn Building in the DNP's Wildlife Conservation Office compound off Phaholyothin Road in Bangkok.

Kiattisak Phimkittidej, who registered two pieces weighing 3 kilograms, said the process was short and simple and called on all those who own ivory to register.

The new law, which took effect on January 22, stipulates that nobody can possess more than two pieces of ivory, or no more than two ivory necklaces or four ivory bracelets. Also, only 12 pieces of such items are allowed per household.

The law also stipulates that these items can only be inherited, not sold, traded, given away or transferred, he said. During registration, each item is weighed, photographed with details stored in a database and stickers issued to identify the items and owners.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Registration-of-ivory-aimed-at-killing-trade-in-Af-30253218.html


-- The Nation 2015-02-03