The Ivory Act (Commencement No.1) Regulations 2021 also accompanies the Prohibitions Regulations. These Regulations will bring into force the specified provisions of the Ivory Act (2018), which deal with registration and exemption on 1 February 2022 (for regulation-making powers) and 24 February 2022 for all remaining purposes.
The Schedule of the Prohibitions Regulations includes a list of Prescribed Institutions, which are institutions (chiefly museums) authorised to assess items for which applications for exemption certificates from sale prohibition under the Ivory Act have been made.
Prescribed Institutions:
- Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology
- Glasgow Museums
- Horniman Museum
- Manchester Museum
- University of Manchester
- National Maritime Museum
- National Museums Scotland
- Royal Armouries Museum
- University of Cambridge Museums
- Victoria and Albert Museum
The Prohibition Regulations will not commence the Ivory Act 2018, which is due to come into force in Spring 2022. The Ivory Act prohibits dealing in ivory unless the item either qualifies for exemption under section 2 of the Act (pre-1918 items of outstanding artistic etc value and importance) or is registered under section 10 of the Act (registration) as falling under one of four categories for exemption specified in sections 6 to 9 (other exemptions).
UK ban on sales of ivory
In December 2018, one of the world’s toughest bans on ivory sales became law as the Ivory Bill gained Royal Assent and became the Ivory Act 2018
There is various additional information that is required to make an application for an exemption certificate, fees for making an application, as well as the ability to appeal against refusal or revocation.
