Following China’s national ban on ivory trade and processing, the question of what to do with ivory products that were legally obtained before the ban went into effect has become a major public concern, with many experts and entrepreneurs calling for specific and clear governmental instruction.

China closed 67 ivory retail outlets on March 31 in accordance with its plan to eradicate the country’s ivory trade by the end of 2017. According to Thepaper.cn, Chinese authorities will shut down the last 105 such enterprises by the end of the year.

Though the move has been hailed as a game-changer by animal protection activists and organizations, many enterprises have also expressed worries, as the government has not yet issued any documents addressing existing ivory products.

“We haven’t received any instruction from the government on how to deal with the leftover ivory products, which we acquired through legal channels before. We have kept them in the warehouse, waiting for more direction,” Li Lanyun, director of a Fujian-based arts and crafts company, told Thepaper.cn, adding that the ban has made a dent in the business of many ivory product companies.

“I hope authorities can establish a buy-back program, such as building an ivory art museum, so that companies can get rid of their stash while also promoting traditional art,” said Li.

Zhang Li, a professor from the Bioscience Institute of Beijing Normal University, agreed that companies’ legal rights should be respected, and that the government should buy back all the remaining ivory, as this move will stop possible illegal trade.

However, Zhou Fei, director of TRAFFIC, doesn't believe that the government will buy back the products, as a buffer period was already afforded the companies to deal with their remaining stock.

“As far as I know, the government has no plan to buy the remaining ivory products. They may just be destroyed,” Zhou speculated.