Thailand introduces measures to control ivory trade

BANGKOK, December 26 (TNA) - Thailand's Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation is introducing its new ivory trade control measures to parties concerned nationwide to prevent Thailand from facing trade barriers from other member countries of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The introduction happens to officials of the department and 21 related agencies nationwide, who are learning how to spot the illegal trade of ivory and campaign for legal trade among operators. According to Theerapat Prayurasiddhi, the department's deputy director-general, the officials will meet ivory traders from Jan 2-31, 2013 and have them to register their business and declare the sources and quantities of their ivory stocks and the amounts of their ivory products. Theerapat said that, under the new measures, traders are also required to issue receipts to all customers and not to sell ivory to foreigners because some countries ban ivory trade. Thailand's Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has, meanwhile, seized about 10 tons of ivory and it will build an ivory museum for public education and campaigns for wildlife protection. (TNA)