Stone King issues legal warning to region’s antique dealers

Andrew Banks (pictured), who is a partner at the Cambridge law firm Stone King, said the decision to fine the auction house Christie's £3,250 this week for trying to sell a banned elephant tusk had implications for local dealers and auction houses.

Under revised EU guidance relating to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), un-carved ivory tusks with metal mounts like the one in the Christie’s catalogue no longer qualify under the ‘worked item’ rules.

The rules exempt most antiques from trade restrictions providing they were significantly altered from their natural state before June 1947. It is illegal to sell unworked elephant ivory of any age under CITES rules.

Mr Banks said there was widespread confusion among local antique dealers over what constitutes a worked item following the latest EU guidance.

He added: “If a large and reputable organisation such as Christie’s is having difficulty in complying with the Control on Trade in Endangered Species Regulations, then what hope is there for our smaller auction houses and antique dealers?

“They risk fines of several thousand pounds simply for making an honest mistake with their paperwork. Maybe it’s time for reconsideration of the way the regulations are applied.

“The protection of endangered species is a serious and important issue, but the prosecution of reputable businesses who have made administrative errors when selling antique specimens containing parts of species that are long since dead to my mind detracts from the important business of prosecuting rogues and those who deliberately flout the law.”

*******

Further information:
If you have any questions please contact Andrew Banks at Stone King LLP  at
Email:  AndrewBanks@stoneking.co.uk


Media enquiries:
For further information please contact Léonie Spencer at Stone King LLP  at  
Email: LCS@stoneking.co.uk  or  tel. 01225 324427
___________________________________________________