On 15 January 2015, Thailand submitted the 1^st Progress Report on the implementation of the revised National Ivory Action Plan (NIAP) to CITES Secretariat, Geneva.  The 1^st Progress Report of the revised NIAP (as of 15^th January 2015) covers 5 areas:

1. Enactment of Laws and Regulations in order to effectively control and suppress African ivory smuggling, as follows:

1.1 Amendment of certain provisions under the Wild Animals Reservation and Protection Act B.E. 2535 (1992) (6 articles) in order to prevent the illegal possession of wildlife specimens, carcasses and wildlife products, in line with the issuance of a new regulation granting African elephants the status of a protected species.

1.2 Enactment of the Ivory Trade Act B.E. 2558 (2015) in order to control the trade, import, export and possession of ivory and ivory products originating from domesticated elephant ivory.

1.3 Enactment of 17 Subordinate Laws e.g. regulations under the Ministry of Interior’s Beasts of Burden Act to prescribe a new form of Elephant Identification Certificate.  Each elephant’s identification information and scientific information (such as DNA) is stored in digital form (microchip), preventing the registration of smuggled wild elephants as domesticated ones.  

2. Improvement of three registration systems which are: (1) registration system of ivory traders and ivory products list; (2) registration system for legal ivory possession from domesticated and African elephants; and, (3) registration system for confiscated ivory. These registration systems will be the central database for information on ivory.  The concerned authorities will be able to access information about traders, ivory possessors, ivory products movement, changes in ownership and to monitor confiscated ivory effectively.

3. Supervision and Law Enforcement – Established 22 ivory trade patrol teams throughout the country, 11 joint task force teams to increase enforcement of ivory smuggling in high risk areas and at borders, seaports, airports and post offices.  Two cases involving confiscation of ivory weighing165.7 kg and the arrest of criminals concerned, has been reported.

4. Public Relations – Continuously raising awareness among the main target groups which are foreign tourists, ivory traders, ivory owners and the general public. For more information, please visit www.thailandtoday.in.th www.tourismthailand.org and www.tatnew.org.

5. Mechanisms to resolve illegal ivory trade issues - Established 4 sub-committees to  carry out, monitor, evaluate and regularly report to Thailand’s National Committee on CITES and the Prime Minister.