Lesley Griffiths, Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Members of the Senedd will wish to be aware I am giving consent to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to lay The Ivory Prohibitions (Exemption) (Process and Procedure) Regulations on 3 February 2022. These regulations will come into force on 24 February 2022.
Agreement was sought by Victoria Prentis MP, Minister for Farming, Fisheries and Food to make these regulations, which will apply to the United Kingdom.
The Ivory Prohibitions (Exemptions) (Process and Procedure) Regulation 2021 make detailed provision for the operation of the exemptions processes under the Act. This will apply to the UK as a whole and will allow persons to register items containing ivory for exemption from the eventual prohibition of ivory sales, subject to specific criteria.
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 Act have been made.
The Prohibitions Regulations will not commence the prohibition of ivory sales in the UK. The prohibition of ivory sales in the UK is due to commence in spring 2022.