U.S. authorities on Thursday, June 2 announced a near-total ban on the trade of African elephant ivory, finalizing a years-long push to fight the poaching of the threatened animals, AFP reports.

Conservation groups welcomed the move by the United States, the world's second-largest consumer of illegal ivory after China, even though it comes with notable exemptions including for antiques.

The new rule, which takes effect July 6, "substantially limits" imports, exports and sales of ivory across state lines, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) said.

"Today's bold action underscores the United States' leadership and commitment to ending the scourge of elephant poaching and the tragic impact it's having on wild populations," Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell said, according to AFP.

More than 35,000 elephants are slaughtered each year on the African continent from an approximate population of more than 450,000 in the wild.

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) hailed the U.S. move to protect the species as historic.

But the new restriction comes with a series of exemptions, including for documented antiques which are at least 100 years old and meet several additional requirements, AFP says.

Other exempt items include certain musical instruments, furniture and firearms that contain less than 200 grams of ivory.