The Act bans dealing in ivory but does not affect ownership of items, bequeathing, gifting, donating or inheriting such items. Photo: Shutterstock.
The Ivory Act 2018 (Meaning of “Ivory” and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2025 has extended the ban on dealing ivory to the following species: common hippopotamus, killer whale, narwhal and sperm whale.
The regulations come into force on 28 January 2025. From this date, it will be illegal to deal in items made of, or containing, ivory from these species unless they have a valid registration or exemption certificate. The legislation has been signed today and comes into force in 21 days on 28 January 2025.
What is banned under the Ivory Act?
The Ivory Act bans dealing in items made of, or containing, ivory from species listed under the Act. Dealing means sale, purchase or hire (including keeping an item for any of these purposes), and offering to sell, purchase or hire.
The ban applies to dealings taking place within the UK, and to exports from, and imports into the UK for these purposes. You should also check other rules that apply to your item, including rules on trading in endangered species.
Which species are covered?
From 28 January 2025, the ban will apply to ivory from the common hippopotamus, killer whale, narwhal and sperm whale, in addition to elephant.
What are the exemptions?
There are five exemptions to the ivory ban which apply to all species under the ban:  
- musical instruments made before 1975 with less than 20% ivory by volume  
- items made before 3 March 1947 with less than 10% ivory by volume  
- portrait miniatures made before 1918 with a total surface area of no more than 320 square centimetres  
- items a qualifying museum intends to buy or hire  
- items made before 1918 that are of outstandingly high artistic, cultural or historical value.  
Items can be bought, sold or hired out only if they meet one of the five exemptions to the ivory ban. Those items have to be registered or certified under the relevant exemption using the Digital Ivory Service. 
The Digital Ivory Service and guidance is being updated to include the four new ivory species. You can use the service to register an item or apply for an exemption certificate for these species in the usual way from 28 January 2025.
Can I still own ivory from the additional species?
The Act bans dealing in ivory. The ivory ban does not affect ownership of items, bequeathing, gifting, donating or inheriting such items.
What are the sanctions if you break the law, are they the same for the new species?
The Ivory Act is one of the toughest bans on ivory sales in the world. It has some of the strongest enforcement penalties for those found guilty of breaching the ban, with a maximum fine of £250,000 or up to five years prison sentence.
The civil and criminal sanctions remain the same for the ban as it applies to ivory from the four additional species.
View further information from the MU on registering ivory items.