"We feel this is the best way to protect the endangered and protected species from which a significant portion of ivory products are derived," says Jack Christin, eBay's senior regulatory counsel.

Calls for Change

The company has heard calls for the change since at least 2002, when the Humane Society finding thousands of illegal ivory items on the site on any given day. The complication comes from the fact that ivory trading laws vary from nation to nation. International trade is prohibited by a , however, and eBay had already banned cross-border ivory sales in a . eBay now says that ban was not enough.

"This ban tried to balance the protection of endangered and protected species while also providing a way for sellers to offer legitimate ivory products legally allowed for sale within domestic markets," says eBay blogger Richard Brewer-Hay. "Given the complexities of the global ivory trade, and the distinct and unique characteristics of the eBay Marketplace, the sale of any ivory on our site continued to be a concern within the company and among stakeholders," he adds.

The New Policy