China , the world 's largest market for legal and illegal ivory , is to reveal its timeline for closing its legal ivory - carving factories . Ivory carving is designated as “intangible cultural heritage” in China. Chinese officials announced last month that it would end commercial ivory sales , but failed to say when . Legal carvers use tusks imported during sanctioned sales from China , but conservationists argue that a wholesale ban would decrease black market demand . Zhou Fei , director of the China programme at wildlife conservation ##s , said that most legal ivory producers are already developing alternative businesses .
China , the world 's largest market for legal and illegal ivory , is to reveal its timeline for closing its legal ivory - carving factories . Chinese officials announced last month that it would end commercial ivory sales , but failed to say when . Legal carvers use tusks imported during sanctioned sales from China , but conservationists argue that a wholesale ban would decrease black market demand . Zhou Fei , director of the China programme at wildlife conservation ##s , said that most legal ivory producers are already developing alternative businesses .