Action

Recommendations for

Japanese Government | Industry Stakeholders | The Public

Government of Japan and Japanese Local Governments

Implement legislative changes that close Japan’s domestic ivory market, with the potential for specific, limited exemptions.

To reduce the risk of illegal trade and export, pending the implementation of the legal closure process, institute the following regulations to restrict trade and monitor activity:

  • Expand the range of ivory eligible for registration

  • Expand the range of ivory for which traceability forms are required

  • Prohibit ivory businesses from taking ivory without a traceability form

  • Improve monitoring and enforcement of compliance with ivory registration and traceability form requirements

  • Implement a requirement for ivory businesses to report on ivory tusk transactions

  • Implement mandatory protocols for ivory businesses (including e-commerce) to confirm that purchasers do not intend to export

Permanently end any existing subsidies and refrain from issuing any new subsidies in the future at every level of government that support maintaining the ivory industry.

Disband the “Public-Private Council for the Promotion of Appropriate Ivory Trade Measures,” a government-led initiative established to support continuing ivory trade.

Ivory Industry Stakeholders

Cease manufacturing new worked ivory products

Continue to cooperate with the Government of Japan and Japanese local governments to prevent illegal ivory trade and exports

Phase-out ivory product sales and instead offer viable alternatives

Withdraw from the “Public-Private Council for the Promotion of Appropriate Ivory Trade Measures”

The Public

Do not buy elephant ivory products

Learn more about elephants and Japan’s role in the ivory trade

Do not shop at stores that sell ivory products

Encourage your government representatives to tighten the regulations on ivory trade and close the domestic market