Ivory & CITES-Listed Items 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
One of the world's strictest ivory bans under the Ivory Act 2018.
Can I bring Ivory & CITES-Listed Items into United Kingdom?
One of the world's strictest ivory bans under the Ivory Act 2018.
Essentially zero without narrow exemption
- APHA exemption certificate or museum certification for permitted categories
- CITES permit for non-exempt CITES Appendix I specimens
Required at the destination customs authority
Full details
The UK Ivory Act 2018 created one of the most comprehensive ivory trade bans in the world, covering virtually all dealing in elephant ivory. The ban prohibits the importation, export, and dealing of ivory items with very limited exceptions: pre-1918 items of outstanding artistic, cultural, or historical significance; pre-1947 musical instruments; portrait miniatures pre-1918; antique items with less than 10% ivory by volume pre-1947 (but post-Brexit rules have become stricter); and sales between qualifying museums. Travellers cannot bring ivory purchased abroad (even genuine antiques) into the UK without satisfying very narrow exemption criteria. APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) enforces imports, and Border Force confiscates ivory.
Active — Customs actively enforces this rule.
Do not purchase ivory items abroad with the intention of bringing them to the UK. The burden of proof for exemptions is very high and rarely met for tourist purchases.
Essentially zero without narrow exemption
- APHA exemption certificate or museum certification for permitted categories
- CITES permit for non-exempt CITES Appendix I specimens
Ivory Act 2018; CITES Implementation under the Control of Trade in Endangered Species Regulations 2018 (COTES)
This page covers destination customs rules in United Kingdom. Whether you can carry ivory & cites-listed items through security, in carry-on, or in checked baggage depends on airline and screening rules — see air travel rules.
Ivory & CITES-Listed Items rules in other countries
Ivory & CITES-Listed Items
🇺🇸 United States
Commercial ivory trade is banned. Personal importation subject to narrow exemptions.
Ivory & CITES-Listed Items
🇿🇦 South Africa
Ivory trade banned under CITES and national law
Ivory & CITES-Listed Items
🇨🇳 China
Complete ban on ivory trade since 2018
Ivory & CITES-Listed Items
🇨🇦 Canada
Ivory & CITES-Listed Items import prohibited
Ivory & CITES-Listed Items
🇦🇺 Australia
Ivory & CITES-Listed Items import prohibited
Ivory & CITES-Listed Items
🇳🇿 New Zealand
Ivory & CITES-Listed Items import prohibited