Ivory & CITES-Listed Items 🇨🇳 China
Complete ban on ivory trade since 2018
Can I bring Ivory & CITES-Listed Items into China?
Complete ban on ivory trade since 2018
Required at the destination customs authority
Full details
China implemented a complete ban on commercial ivory processing and trade effective December 31, 2017. This includes import, sale, and processing. China was previously the world's largest ivory market. Penalties include imprisonment up to 15 years for large quantities. Enforcement in China carries fines from CNY 0 to CNY 50,000 and imprisonment up to 5 years in aggravated cases. In the reverse direction (taking ivory & cites-listed items out of China): prohibited — Elephant ivory may not be taken out of China — CITES Appendix I listing and domestic ivory laws prohibit cross-border movement of post-1975 ivory, and antique exemptions require permits.
PENALTIES
- Fine: 50000 CNY
- Imprisonment up to 60 months
- Criminal penalty
Active — Customs actively enforces this rule.
Leaving China with ivory & cites-listed items
Elephant ivory is listed in CITES Appendix I: commercial international trade is banned, and personal cross-border movement of ivory items from China is prohibited without CITES documentation that is in practice only issued for narrow antique and museum exemptions. Domestic ivory legislation in most covered countries (US ESA rules, UK Ivory Act 2018, China's 2018 trade ban and equivalents) further bans dealing in ivory regardless of export. Travellers carrying inherited or antique ivory must obtain pre-issued CITES export documentation for the narrow exemption categories; without it, items are seized at either border and prosecution is possible.
China's ivory ban is strictly enforced. Do not bring any ivory products into China. If unsure, declare on arrival — declared goods at worst attract duty or surrender, while undeclared goods found in screening are seized and fined.
State Council Notice on ivory trade ban 2016
This page covers destination customs rules in China. Whether you can carry ivory & cites-listed items through security, in carry-on, or in checked baggage depends on airline and screening rules — see air travel rules.
Ivory & CITES-Listed Items rules in other countries
Ivory & CITES-Listed Items
🇺🇸 United States
Commercial ivory trade is banned. Personal importation subject to narrow exemptions.
Ivory & CITES-Listed Items
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
One of the world's strictest ivory bans under the Ivory Act 2018.
Ivory & CITES-Listed Items
🇿🇦 South Africa
Ivory trade banned under CITES and national law
Ivory & CITES-Listed Items
🇨🇦 Canada
Ivory & CITES-Listed Items import prohibited
Ivory & CITES-Listed Items
🇦🇺 Australia
Ivory & CITES-Listed Items import prohibited
Ivory & CITES-Listed Items
🇳🇿 New Zealand
Ivory & CITES-Listed Items import prohibited