Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill
The Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill is a Private Members’ Bill (Ballot Bill) that originated in the House of Commons, Session 2022-23. It was sponsored by Henry Smith, Conservative MP for Crawley, and Baroness Fookes, Conservative Life peer.[1] The bill makes provision to ban the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern into Great Britain.[2]
The bill has received support from the government and has passed the House of Commons.[3] It will ban the import of trophies hunted from around 6,000 species including lions, elephants, rhinos, and polar bears.[3]
The Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 15 June 2022. The bill aims to ban the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern, with powers to amend the species within scope of the prohibition by regulations. This bill will deliver a 2019 government manifesto commitment to ban the import of hunting trophies from endangered animals. The UK is party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) which regulates international trade in over 35,000 species of wild animals and plants. The import into Great Britain of hunting trophies is currently governed by a permitting regime under the Principal Wildlife Trade Regulation. The Bill extends to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and applies to Great Britain.