Domestic Ivory Market

Lord Brady of Altrincham Excerpts
Monday 6th February 2017

(7 years, 10 months ago)

Westminster Hall
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Pauline Latham Portrait Pauline Latham
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I have actually just been emailed that it costs roughly £1,000. The email cites a case in which a Cumbrian ivory trader was prosecuted and the court ordered him to pay more than £1,000 as the cost of radiocarbon dating.

Lord Brady of Altrincham Portrait Mr Graham Brady (in the Chair)
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Order. Before Victoria Borwick responds, I have to say that although it is in order for Members to refer to notes on electronic devices, reading emails that have just been received is to be deprecated.

Victoria Borwick Portrait Victoria Borwick
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I think the cost of radiocarbon dating depends on the complexity of the testing required, but I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Derbyshire (Pauline Latham) for her clarification.

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service recognises that antique ivory is a special case that warrants exemptions. People say, “What lessons are we learning from the rest of the world?” Well, in America, although some imports are restricted, federal rules allow trade in legally obtained antique ivory.