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Music industry lobby government over Ivory Ban

An exemption for musical instruments has been proposed to the planned ivory ban, which will be under consultation in April.

Published: 07 April 2017 | 12:00 AM Updated: 28 April 2021 | 4:28 PM

You may be aware that due to serious and grave worldwide concerns over the illegal trafficking and trade in ivory, the UK government has stated that they are to introduce a ban on the movement of all ivory.

The Musicians’ Union (MU), in association with the Association of British Orchestras (ABO) and the Music Industries Association (MIA, the trade body for the UK musical instrument industry), wrote to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Andrea Leadsom MP, seeking an exemption for musical instruments.

We are pleased to note that in response to our early lobbying, an exemption for musical instruments is being proposed.

The government is launching a 12-week consultation in late April, and we will be formulating a response with our music industry partners.

We have been asked to gather evidence of instruments containing ivory and we would be grateful if you could please let us know whether you own and/or use an instrument which contains ivory, even if it is a very small amount.

It would also be helpful to know the age of the instrument containing the ivory.

Please email live@theMU.org with the details by 9th May.

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