Statutory guidance

Ivory Act 2018 enforcement and civil sanctions

How the Animal and Plant Health Agency and other enforcement bodies can use enforcement and sanctioning powers to secure compliance with illegal ivory dealing.

Documents

Details

Includes information on:

  • enforcement and investigation powers
  • civil sanctions that may be applied - enforcement undertakings, stop notices and monetary penalties
  • criminal proceedings for more serious offences
  • challenges and appeals
  • the report we will publish on the use of civil sanctions

Read guidance on how to register an ivory item.

Civil sanctions report under the Ivory Act 2018

As of 28 April 2025, the Animal and Plant Health Agency has not applied any civil sanctions under the Ivory Act 2018.

This means there is no civil sanctions report to publish at this time.

We will publish a report if civil sanctions are issued. This could include enforcement undertakings, stop notices or monetary penalties.

Updates to this page

Published 21 March 2022
Last updated 3 June 2025 show all updates
  1. Added update to confirm that, as of 28 April 2025, no civil sanctions have been applied under the Ivory Act 2018, so there is no report to publish at this time.

  2. This guidance now covers ivory from the following species: elephant, hippopotamus, killer whale, narwhal and sperm whale.

  3. Added a link to the enforcement undertaking offer form. Edited the certificate of compliance section - we'll send you an enforcement undertaking compliance certificate form when we write to you to accept your proposal.

  4. Added Welsh translation for the document.

  5. First published.

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