Ivory, rhino horn and other elephant and rhino products

CITES is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. It is an international agreement to ensure that trade does not cause species to become extinct. It operates using a permit system depending on how endangered the animal or plant is. Further information is available at: CITES.

The requirement for a pre-Convention certificate affects all elephant and rhino products, including but not limited to:

• Ivory tusks, carvings and ornamentation.
• Horns and horn carvings.
• Leather including garments, furnishings and taxidermied specimens.
• Hair, including jewellery.
• Bones and teeth.
• Dung or other by-products.

You need to get the pre-convention Certificate before you move your goods internationally—whether you intend to carry the goods with you or send them by post or freight.

Without a certificate, you are breaking the law. Your goods could be seized and you could be liable for significant penalties including fines.

Penalties apply for the possession of specimens that have been illegally imported and range up to $210,000 for an individual ($1,050,000 for a body-corporate) and/or 10 years imprisonment.

CHECK THE IMPORT LAWS AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE DESTINATION COUNTRY to see if your ivory is allowed to be imported. The contact details are available at: international CITES Management Authorities.

You can apply for an Australian pre-Convention export certificate at Wildlife Trade Permit Application. You will be asked for evidence about the age and origin of the item such as:

• A statutory declaration from the owner.
• Receipts or any other documentation that supports the statutory declaration.
• An age assessment from an independent expert – there are special requirements for rhino horn (below).
• Previous CITES documentation, if applicable.
• Colour photographs of the item.
• Dimensions of the item, including height, width and weight.
• Distinguishing markings including unique serial numbers, identifiers or maker’s marks, if available.

Independent experts can assess the age of elephant ivory. You can try museum or antiques experts or you can look at the list of approved valuers - Cultural Gifts Program.

The assessor must not have a financial or other interest in the item. This means the assessment cannot be from an auction house that is involved selling the item.

The assessment results must include the approximate age of the item and detailed reasons why the assessor believes the item to be that age. The credentials of the assessor should be included as an attachment.

You are responsible for any costs associated with the assessment.

You must obtain a radiocarbon dating age analysis that demonstrates the horn is from an animal that died before 1957.

Rhino horns that are proven through radiocarbon dating to be younger than 1957 cannot be exported as commercial or personal items under any circumstances.

The analysis can only be obtained from one of the following institutions:

• Australian National University (ANU) Research School of Earth Sciences in Canberra, ACT
• Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) in Lucas Heights, NSW

You need a referral from us. You are responsible for organising the testing, including contacting the institution, transporting the horn, and paying all costs. The Department does not determine the fees for these services.

Testing can take approximately two months. If the results are inconclusive, the institution may ask you for a second sample. You will be responsible for any additional costs.

The institution will send a copy of the testing results to you and to the Department. It will include details of the horn, including photographs.

You then need to apply an Australian pre-convention export certificate as described above.

You must obtain a pre-Convention certificate from the CITES Management Authority of the country of export. Before moving the item email a copy of the certificate to the Department at wildlifetrade@environment.gov.au so we can check that that it meets Australia’s strict import laws.

You must declare the item at the Australian border. You must present it for inspection together with the pre-Convention certificate.

You must then send the original certificate to us as the CITES Management Authority of Australia at GPO Box 787, Canberra ACT 2601 (unless the Australian Border Force has collected the certificate).  Please keep a copy for your records.

Pre-Convention certificates are valid for one international movement of the item only. It is not like a passport. It has no value after you have used it.

Private ownership of elephant and rhino products in Australia is legal if the items were imported lawfully to Australia. Unlawfully imported products can be seized.

If you own or possess an elephant or rhino product you must be able to show, if asked, that the product is lawfully in Australia. For example you may have a copy of an import permit, receipt or photographic evidence indicating when the product arrived in Australia. Keep this in mind if you inherit or give away products such as ivory or rhino horn in Australia. You do not need to ask us to certify or assess your personally owned items.

Please contact wildlifetradecompliance@environment.gov.au for advice.

Before you buy or sell ivory check all documentation carefully to ensure the product is lawfully in Australia.

To help you we have developed a ‘Wildlife Statutory Declaration’ form in consultation with the auction industry to show provenance for domestic sale. This form is not mandatory but can help set out the provenance of regulated wildlife items that are offered for domestic sale by auction houses.

Wildlife Statutory Declaration (PDF - 278.8 KB)
Wildlife Statutory Declaration (DOCX - 37.39 KB)

The form should be accompanied by evidence of lawful import, based on the age and origin of the item, which could include:

• Invoices and receipts, including internet sale descriptions.
• Previous CITES permits or import documentation.
• An age assessment from an independent expert.
• Travel documents, immigration records, military service records, old photographs, etc.