Declare ivory you intend to sell or hire out
Use this service to register an ivory item or apply for an exemption certificate to deal in ivory.
If you intend to deal in an ivory item you can use this service and pay the relevant fees:
- £20 to register a single item under a standard exemption
- £250 to apply for an exemption certificate for an item made before 1918 that is of outstandingly high artistic, cultural or historical value
- £20 to notify us that you intend to sell or hire out an item that has an exemption certificate that was awarded to someone else
All payments are non-refundable.
Before you start
Registering a single item
You’ll be emailed a unique registration number for each item you register. Keep a record of this number as soon as you receive it so you can match it to your item or items later on.
Read the guidance for dealing in items containing ivory or made of ivory.
Applying for an exemption certificate
You must provide as many details about your item as possible. If not, your application may be unsuccessful.
Read the guidance on Ivory: apply for an exemption certificate to deal in pre-1918 outstandingly high artistic, cultural or historical value items.
What dealing in ivory means
Dealing in ivory means:
- buying, selling or hiring it
- offering or arranging to buy, sell or hire it
- keeping it for sale or hire
- exporting it from the UK for sale or hire
- importing it into the UK for sale or hire
Throughout the service we use ‘sell or hire out’ when referring to all the ways you might be dealing in ivory.
Under the ban:
- buying includes acquiring ivory for valuable consideration, such as a trade or swap with something that has value, or for a discount in a store
- selling includes disposing of ivory for valuable consideration, such as a trade or swap with something that has value, or for a discount in a store
- offering includes advertising and inviting an offer
It is an offence to:
- breach the ban
- cause the ban to be breached
- facilitate a breach of the ban
Other ways to register or apply
You can also email or write to us by post to:
- register a group of items (3 to 20 items) under a standard exemption
- register a single item under a standard exemption
- apply for an exemption certificate
When contacting us you’ll need to:
- request the relevant application form
- state which exemption you’re applying for, and if it’s a group registration
- provide your contact details
Email: ivoryact@apha.gov.uk
Post:
Animal and Plant Health Agency
Centre for International Trade - Bristol
Horizon House
Deanery Road
Bristol
BS1 5AH
Updates to this page
Published 24 February 2022Last updated 16 November 2022 + show all updates
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Made the costs to register an ivory item or apply for an exemption certificate clearer. Provided additional guidance on registering single items. Provided additional information on how to apply for an exemption certificate and added a link to the guidance page. Made other ways to register or apply clearer.
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First published.