Bangkok (Thailand) – April 30, 2016 (travelindex.com) – Thailand is intensifying its efforts to put an end to the illegal trade in ivory and ivory products by aligning national laws with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

As part of nationwide efforts, Thailand is implementing a national ivory action plan to combat the illegal ivory trade. This plan includes the 2015 National Ivory Law, which was amended to recognize African elephants as a protected species and to regulate the ivory trade in and through Thailand.

According to the amended Thai Ivory Law of 2015, all ivory and ivory products from domesticated elephants sold or transported in Thailand must be accompanied by identification certificates and proof of legal ownership by the holder or a receipt from an authorized dealer. However, the export of ivory and ivory products from domesticated elephants remains prohibited.

Thailand prohibits all unregistered import and export of ivory and ivory products. The import or export of ivory and ivory products is illegal and can be punished with imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of up to six million baht, or both.

To raise awareness of Thailand's efforts to combat the illegal ivory trade, the Thai Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) has released a series of videos to warn travelers of the applicable regulations and penalties for trading in illegal ivory or ivory products.

For further information, please contact the hotline of the Thai Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation: 1362

International Public Relations Department, Tourism Authority of Thailand, 1600 New Petchaburi Road, Makkasan, Ratchathevi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand, Tel.: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48, Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419, E-mail: [email protected], Website: www.TATnews.org