The UK is set to take a step-closer to banning ivory, as the Ivory Bill is published today.
Environment secretary Michael Gove will be publishing the bill, which covers all ivory items regardless of the date they were made and only makes exceptions for a few 'narrow, carefully-defined exemptions'.
The bill comes after a consultation found such a ban was backed by 88 percent of those asked.
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The UK government also spoke to antique experts and environmental groups.
It's believed around 20,000 elephants are killed for their ivory every year.
Gove said: "Elephants are one of the world's most iconic animals and we must do all we can to protect them for future generations. That's why we will introduce one of the world's toughest bans on ivory sales. The overwhelmingly positive response to our consultation shows the strength of public feeling to protect these magnificent animals.
"We have acted quickly in introducing this Bill, less than six weeks after publishing our consultation responses. I hope this serves as a clear sign of our global leadership on this vital issue."
If found guilty of breaching the ban people could be whacked with an unlimited fine or up to five years in jail.
Exceptions include items that are comprised of less than 10 percent ivory and 'the rarest and most important items of their type', which must be over 100 years old and will be assessed by specialists from museums.
John Stephenson, CEO at Stop Ivory said: "We welcome this speedy introduction of the legislation to end ivory sales in the UK. The pace at which important proposals are being underscored by legislation is a welcome and important contribution to ending the scourge of poaching and securing a sustainable future for elephants.
"Hopefully the remainder of the EU will now follow the UK's lead without further delay and implement the changes that their populations have been demanding."
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The illegal wildlife trade is believed to be worth around £17 billion ($22.7bn) a year.
The bill comes after China outlawed all its legal government-sanctioned ivory trading. The move was hailed as the 'single greatest step toward reducing elephant poaching' by the chief executive WildAid.
The ban has already caused an 80 percent decline in seizures of illegal ivory entering China, as well as a 65 percent drop in prices of raw ivory, according to WildAid.
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