Endangered Species

Companies importing musical instruments containing wood - including drums, clarinets, flutes, and piccolos - will be required to file a new import declaration form. Join the NAMM public policy team and experts to learn the steps you must follow to comply with this new import requirement. Presented by NAMM Public Affairs and Government Relations. This webinar will be available to watch on demand beginning Tuesday, June 8. 

A wide range of imported musical instruments -- including drums, clarinets, flutes and piccolos -- will be required to file a Lacey Act import declaration form according to information provided by the Animal and Plant Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The Lacey Act was expanded in 2008 to include all plants and plant products (including wood). It has two parts:

1. It is unlawful to import, export, buy or sell within the U.S. any plant product obtained in violation of any U.S. or foreign law that protects plants.
2. Any imported product containing wood or other plant material must be accompanied by an import declaration (APHIS Form PPQ 505) which includes, among other things, the genus and species of all wood contained in the product, the country of harvest, the quantity of each type of wood and the value on entry.

Notwithstanding the broad scope of the import declaration requirement, APHIS has been phasing in compliance over the past decade. It first declared that the filing requirement is only applicable to formal imports, i.e., it excludes instruments accompanying traveling musicians.

Effective April 1, 2010, the import declaration requirement was made applicable to pianos (including player pianos, harpsichords, and other stringed keyboard instruments) defined in Harmonized Tariff Schedule 9201 and "other stringed instruments" (including acoustic guitars, violins, and harps) in HTS 9202.

Now, the import declaration requirement will be applicable to imported products falling within the following HTS codes:

• 9205.90.20.00 -- wind musical instruments, bagpipes
• 9205.90.40.20 -- clarinets
• 9205.90.40.60 -- flutes and piccolos
• 9205.90.40.80 -- other woodwind instruments
• 9206.00.20.00 -- drums
• 9207.90.00.40 -- fretted stringed instruments, the sound of which is produced or must be amplified electrically.
• 9209.92 -- parts and accessories for musical instruments (e.g., instrument stands, tuning pins, bows)
• 9209.92.80.80 -- parts and accessories for musical instruments, other
• 9209.99.20.00 -- parts and accessories for bagpipes
• 9209.99.40.40 -- parts and accessories for other woodwind instruments
• 9209.99.80.00 -- parts and accessories for musical instruments, other

Further information on HTS code descriptions can be found at https://hts.usitc.gov/current. Musical Instruments are found in Chapter 92.

The import declaration form must be filed electronically or in paper format by the importer although as a practical matter the information required by the form must be obtained from the product manufacturer or exporter.

More detailed information on Lacey Act requirements can be found at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/lacey_act

The European musical instrument organization CSFI has p5repared a guidance document for European manufacturers and exporters, but it can also be helpful to U.S. importers. It can be found at https://www.csfi-musique.fr/reglementations/lacey-act

The Fish and Wildlife Service has officially launched an e-permit platform, which allows businesses seeking import or export permits required by CITES, the Lacey Act and other federal statues to apply for and track permit status using the internet. The platform also allows applicants use the pay.gov process to pay application fees by credit card or deposit account.

NAMM has consistently supported the development of an on-line permitting system to speed up processing times. Permit applicants can still use hard-copy applications with regular bank checks. Further information can be found at www.fws.gov/epermits.

Questions? FWS Help Center

Music Industry-relevant links:

• Pre-Convention, Pre-Act, or Antique Musical Instruments Certificate (CITES, MMPA and/or ESA)
• Import / Export License for U.S. Entities
• Import / Export License for Foreign Entities
• Export/Re-Export of Plants and Plant Products under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
• Export or Re-Export of Pre-Convention, Pre-Act, or Antiques Specimens (CITES, MMPA and/or ESA)
• Export of Wildlife Removed from the Wild (Live/Samples/ Parts/Products) under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)

Search the complete list of FWS e-permit links.

This week, CSFI, APLG and EGB issued a 4-page pdf guide for European manufacturers and retailers complying with new LACEY Act orders scheduled to go into effect on October 1, 2020.

As mentioned previously, in response to concerns expressed by our industry and other stakeholder groups, APHIS will publish a Federal Register notice in the coming weeks to delay implementation, providing the trade community with time to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and prepare for this change.

APHIS will continue to provide the latest information through the Stakeholder Registry. Click here to subscribe, visit the Lacey Act website to learn more about the enforcement schedule, and check this page regularly.

In March 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) published a notice in the Federal Register announcing plans to implement phase six of the Lacey Act enforcement schedule, effective October 1, 2020. In response to concerns about operational and economic setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic expressed by our industry and other stakeholder groups, APHIS will publish a Federal Register notice in the coming weeks to delay implementation. This action will give the trade community time to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and prepare for this change.

APHIS will continue to provide the latest information through the Stakeholder Registry. Click here to subscribe. Please visit the Lacey Act website to learn more about the enforcement schedule.

On May 20, 2020 NAMM issued public comment in response to Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) proposed implementation of Phase VI of the Lacey Act enforcement schedule which adds several product categories to the declaration required whenever certain covered plant products are brought into the country. NAMM requests that the effective date for the declaration filing be set six months after the final notice is issued to allow NAMM member companies sufficient time to gather the required information, and the restated enforcement policy surrounding the term "import" be included in the Phase VI declaration. NAMM will continue to work in this issue with APHIS in partnership with other industry groups.

April 1, 2020: Broad Expansion of LACEY Act Import Declarations Proposed: Public Comment Period Ends June 1

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has proposed a broad expansion of Lacey Act requirements for imported products containing wood or other plant material to file a declaration (Form PPQ 505) at the time of importation. The proposal would require a declaration to be filed for the following categories of musical instruments and accessories described in Chapter 92 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS), Ch. 92 Headings (musical instruments):

• 9205902000-wind musical instruments: bagpipes
• 9205904020-clarinets
• 9205904080-other (woodwind instruments)
• 9205904060-flutes and piccolos
• 9206002000-drums
• 9207900040-musical instruments (fretted string instruments)
• 9209.92-parts and accessories for musical instruments of heading 9202
• 9209928000-parts and accessories for musical instruments
• 9209992000-parts and accessories for bagpipes
• 9209994040-parts and accessories for other woodwind instruments
• 9209998000-parts and accessories for musical instruments of heading 9202, other

Declaration requirements, if adopted, would go into effect on October 1, 2020. Public comments will be received via the Federal eRulemaking Portal until June 1, 2020.

Since the Lacey Act was amended in 2008 to cover all wood and plant material, APHIS has phased in the declaration filing requirements, which, under the law, are applicable to all imports. At the present time, an import declaration is required only for pianos and other stringed instruments (HTS Codes 9201 and 9202).

For more information contact: Ms. Dorothy Wayson, National Policy Manager, Lacey Act Program, Compliance and Environmental Coordination Branch, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 150, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851–2036.

March 3, 2020: Limited Exception to Lacey Import Declaration Authorized

The Agriculture Department has authorized a limited exception to the Lacey Act requirement that all imported products containing wood and other plant products be accompanied by a declaration disclosing all wood in the products. The new "de minimis" rule exempts any product with no more than five percent (5%) of the weight of the individual product, provided that the total weight of the shipment does not exceed 2.9 kilograms. The rule is effective on April 1, 2020.

APHIS has adopted a phase-in of the import declaration requirement. At the present time only two categories of musical instruments, pianos and "other stringed instruments," require a declaration, but APHIS has indicated that it will expand those categories later this year.

NAMM monitors this issue and provides periodic updates on advocacy efforts and pending legislation. Please visit this page regularly.

Feb. 10, 2020: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Launches Online Permit Application Portal

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has launched a new system making it possible for the first time to apply and pay for certain FWS permits online. Until now, the only way to apply was to mail in a paper copy of the permit application form with a check, which added to the processing time. The following permit application forms may now be accessed via the internet:

• 3-200-29 - Establish a Master File of Wildlife Samples and/or Biomedical Samples under CITES
• 3-200-32 - Establish a Master File Export/ Re-Export of Plants and Plant Products under CITES
• 3-200-33 - Establish a Master File Export of Artificially Propagated Plants under CITES
• 3-200-34 - Establish a Master File of American Ginseng under CITES
• 3-200-74 - Partially Complete Certification under a Master File or an Annual Program File under CITES
• 3-200-75 - Registration of a Production Facility for Export of Certain Native Species under CITES

The application portal also includes special guidance on a number of materials and guidance on best practices for submitting applications online.

View Online Permit Application Steps and learn more.

NAMM will continue to urge FWS to expand the system to encompass more forms, including those for single shipments of musical instruments containing CITES-listed species and will work with both FWS and CITES officials to expand e-permitting worldwide.

2020 NAMM Show Policy Forum

Industry experts provide industry-specific policy updates on revised CITES permit requirements, remote sales tax, Prop 65, Chinese tariffs and NAMM Fly-In plans. Moderated by Mary Luehrsen, Director, Public Affairs and Government Relations, NAMM. Panelists: Jim Goldberg, Managing Partner, Goldberg & Associates, PLLC; Heather Noonan, Vice President for Advocacy, League of American Orchestras; Chris Cushing, Managing Director, Federal Strategies, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough; and Leo Coco, Managing Director, Education Policy, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough.

Recorded Forum

Timestamp / Segment

• :01         Welcome and Overview
• :55         CITES
• 10:40     Prop 65
• 23:55     E-Commerce
• 33:33     Tariffs
• 43:54     Music Education

Nov. 19, 2019: CITES dalbergia requirements effective Nov. 26

The exemption for musical instruments containing dalbergia from CITES permit requirements becomes effective on November 26. The US Fish and Wildlife will stop issuing or requiring export permits on that date; however, many other countries may not be ready for full implementation on that date. NAMM members exporting instruments, parts or accessories after November 26 should check with the recipient’s country to see what permits, if any, are required. Instruments containing Brazilian rosewood remain listed on Appendix I and export permits are still required.

Nov. 13, 2019: LACEY Act

NAMM continues to monitor developments with regard to the Lacey Act, which, among other things, bans the sale of music instruments and other wood products containing illegally harvested wood. The Act also requires some importers to file a declaration form (PPQ 505) specifying the wood content of products brought into the U.S. The Agriculture Department is currently working on proposed regulations to provide guidance for the treatment of products containing composite wood (e.g., plywood). The Department is also considering expanding the list of products subject to the import declaration form filing; the current list is limited to pianos and other string instruments (HTS Codes 9201 and 9202). Learn more.  

NAMM members are encouraged to check back often for updates; this topic will also be reviewed at NAMM Show policy session on January 16, 2020 at 10 a.m. at the Member Center.

Oct. 3, 2019: CITES Issues Official Notification for Dalbergia Annotation Change

Today CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) issued an official notification stating that the effective date for the musical instrument exemption from the dalbergia permitting requirement is November 26, 2019.

The official notification contains definitions applicable to the exemption. As noted upon the approval of Annotation 15, imports and exports of finished musical instruments, finished parts, and finished accessories will no longer need a CITES permit. The exception applies to all species of dalbergia except Brazilian rosewood, which remains on CITES Appendix I. As a best practice, NAMM Member companies should continue to work with their Management Authorities in their country of export/import to ensure compliance.

"We are pleased that the CITES parties have recognized the burdens that the original listing placed on industry and governments, while at the same time acknowledging the industry's commitment to work with all parties to make sure that sustainable forestry practices are preserved," affirmed Jim Goldberg, of Goldberg & Associates, PLLC.

The notification comes on the heels of the Conference of the Parties (CoP18) in Geneva, Switzerland, in August of this year, where Annotation 15 was adopted by the 182 countries and the EU. Read more in the Aug. 28 update, below. 

At CoP18, NAMM hosted a gathering of more than 100 key stakeholders to gain understanding of the conservation efforts and policy complexities facing musicians and musical instrument makers which included CITES management authority officials, conservation organizations, and industry representatives including the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada; ANAFIMA - Brazilian Music Industry Association; The Argentinian Association of Musical Instruments Manufacture; Association of British Orchestras; The Australian Music Association; Bundesverband der deutschen Musikinstrumentenhersteller e.V.; C.F. Martin & Co.; Collings Guitars; Confederation of European Music Industries (CAFIM); Dismamusica; Fender Musical Instruments Corporation; ForestBased Solutions, LLC; French Musical Instrument Organisation (CSFI); International Alliance of Violin and Bow Makers for Endangered Species; International Association of Violin and Bow Makers; International Federation of Musicians; International Wood Products Association; Japan Musical Instruments Association; League of American Orchestras; Live Performance Australia; Madinter Trade; Music Industries Association; National Association of Music Merchants; Orchestras Canada; Paul Reed Smith; PEARLE*; The Recording Academy; The SOMM - Society of Music Merchants e. V.; Symphony Services Australia; and Taylor Guitars.

How to Comply

Informational Webinars:

Oct. 4, 2019: NAMM partner, the League of American Orchestras, is collaborating with U.S. Fish and Wildlife to produce updated webinars that reflect the new policies adopted at CoP18. (Stand by for time and date to be listed here soon). In the meantime, we encourage you to view the two informational webinars below,  providing guidance on how to comply with the laws that regulate international trade in wildlife and plants:

1. Hosted by the League of American Orchestras and NAMM: New rules for protected species and musical instruments. Access the following: archived webinar, a PDF copy of the slides, or download the MP4 file.
2. Hosted by the International Wood Products Association: Guidance on commercial imports and exports of timber and timber products. Listen to the audio recording.

Questions and Answers

View the following resources: US Fish and Wildlife Guidance for Commercial Timber and Wood Products Traders; Traveling Musicians; The Sale and Purchase of Instruments by Individuals; Traveling Orchestras and Ensembles and more.

If you have a question that is not addressed in the webinars above, or on this page, please contact managementauthority@fws.gov or contact NAMM’s counsel, Jim Goldberg of Goldberg & Associates at jimcounsel@aol.com.

Update: CITES Adopts Exemption for Musical Instruments from Rosewood Restrictions.

Effective in late November 2019 - the exact date to be announced - imports and exports of finished musical instruments, finished parts and finished accessories will no longer need a CITES permit. The exception applies to all species of dalbergia except Brazilian rosewood, which remains on CITES Appendix I.

The change culminates three years of work by the musical instrument industry and was adopted at the just concluded CITES Conference of the Parties (CoP18) in Geneva.

“The consensus reached in Geneva this week and the new policies adopted by CITES parties are the result of more than three years of collaboration among international music stakeholders, government officials, and conservation leaders,” noted Heather Noonan, vice president of advocacy for the League of American Orchestras. “Musical instrument stakeholders have a lasting commitment to the goals of CITES, will remain at the table for ongoing conversations, and are committed to educating the music community globally about how compliance with CITES requirements will support both urgent conservation needs and essential international cultural activity.” Learn more..

(Regarding Woolly Mammoth / Prop.13: Read "Why we need to protect the extinct woolly mammoth")

Update, Sept. 6: What the New CITES Exemptions on Rosewood Mean for the Guitar Industry.

For the last two years, the CITES treaty has made the international transport of guitars containing rosewood both more expensive and more complicated, and has had a significant impact on the guitar industry as a result. Now, thanks to an exemption ratified last week, musical instruments will no longer be subject to these restrictions.

This obviously is great news for the guitar industry, but what will this mean in a practical sense, and how will it affect you, the consumer? Will the restrictions lifted, will we suddenly see a return to widespread use of rosewood in lower-end instruments? Will our rosewood-sporting guitars get cheaper?

To find out, we pulled together a panel of experts from all over the guitar world to find out what they thought…

Lee Anderton
Managing Director, Andertons Music

“While it’s certainly great news from an admin perspective, I don’t think we’ll see an immediate rush back to using rosewood on low and medium priced guitars. So much time and money has been invested in sorting viable alternatives to rosewood, that I doubt manufacturers will want to make another change so soon.

“We also need to be very sensitive with regards to customers (and retailers!) who have bought guitars with a rosewood alternative on it – we mustn’t create a situation where these guitars are treated as inferior to a rosewood-loaded model.”

Nick Frank
Partner, Frank Brothers Guitar Co

“As a company that builds made-to-order custom guitars, the lift on rosewood restrictions in finished instruments will make it easier for us to offer our international customers the option to incorporate some of the beautiful and amazing sounding woods from the Dalbergia genus in their Frank Brothers guitar.

“Responsible forestry and sustainability are important issues to us and we’re happy to see that this amendment maintains strong regulations that will protect the rosewood family of woods.”

Doug Clunie
Coda Music

“Seriously, it’s great news – the CITES certification process was a complete pain. The whole process was long and complicated, requiring an export certificate from source and an import certificate here in the UK.

“Add to that the time the instruments were held at customs while everything was checked, and a three-day service from the US could stretch out to two weeks while the couriers and customs went through everything.”

Andy Mooney 
CEO, Fender

“We are delighted here at Fender that the COP has exempted finished musical instruments, parts and accessories containing Appendix II rosewood from CITES. We share the conservation goals of CITES, but did not believe the volume of rosewood used in the creation of musical instruments warranted being part of the permitting process and are grateful to the COP for listening to our case and adjusting accordingly.

“We pledge to continue working closely with CITES groups to support conservation efforts in a thoughtful and responsible manner.”

Sebastian Fabal,
Senior Director of Operations and Outreach, Reverb.com

“For private sellers in particular, CITES regulations often hindered the opportunity to get their gear in front of musicians all over the world. These sellers typically either limited their inventory to local buyers only, or they sold items internationally – unaware of the regulation – and ran into issues after the item was shipped.

“It will be easier for private sellers to get their gear into the hands of musicians all over the world when CITES regulations are relaxed. With a lower barrier to entry, more sellers of all types can offer these instruments for sale online. The biggest winner here will be buyers, who will begin to have access to a larger variety of these instruments from all over the world on sites like Reverb.”

"What do the New Cites Exemptions on Rosewood Mean for the Guitar Industry" published in Guitar.com.

GENEVA
August 17, 2019

Earlier today at the CITES (Conference on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna) Conference of the Parties (CoP18) in Geneva, Switzerland, NAMM hosted a gathering of more than 100 key stakeholders to gain understanding of the conservation efforts and policy complexities facing musicians and musical instrument makers which included CITES management authority officials, conservation organizations, and music industry representatives.

The program included presentation and discussion of ongoing sustainability efforts, the instrument making process and permit procedures, as well as navigating the use of the CITES Musical Instrument Certificate for globally-traveling musicians. Speakers spanned sustainability representatives from musical instrument makers Fender and PRS and remarks on behalf of musicians and performing ensembles from the League of American Orchestras, to conservation organizations including the World Resources Institute and the World Wildlife Fund International and several of the participating management authorities from around the world.

The event brought together not only stakeholders present at the CoP, but also voting delegates to the convention and leading conservation organizations, all collaborating to craft new policies that will support both sustainability and international cultural activity. “The connection between CITES and musical instrument is clearly a subject of great interest. This was a productive beginning to the conversations that will continue through the next two weeks,” said Betty Heywood, NAMM’s director of international affairs.

The gathering took place on the grounds of the CITES CoP18, where 182 international delegations and the European Union are in attendance to strengthen wildlife trade rules. CoP18 includes agenda items related to Dalbergia (Prop. 52 and Inf. Doc. 26), Cedrela (Prop. 57 and Inf. Doc. 27), Woolly Mammoth (Prop. 13 and Inf. Doc. 25), and the Musical Instrument Certificate (Doc. 53 and Doc. 56 and Inf. Doc. 23). The CoP18 is expected to consider new policies on each agenda item. Additional details on the outcome of the CITES proposals listed above will be provided in a short media alert once decisions are reached at the CoP18.

The luncheon was co-sponsored by the following organizations: American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada; ANAFIMA - Brazilian Music Industry Association; The Argentinian Association of Musical Instruments Manufacture; Association of British Orchestras; The Australian Music Association; Bundesverband der deutschen Musikinstrumentenhersteller e.V.; C.F. Martin & Co.; Collings Guitars; Confederation of European Music Industries (CAFIM); Dismamusica; Fender Musical Instruments Corporation; ForestBased Solutions, LLC; French Musical Instrument Organisation (CSFI); International Alliance of Violin and Bow Makers for Endangered Species; International Association of Violin and Bow Makers; International Federation of Musicians; International Wood Products Association; Japan Musical Instruments Association; League of American Orchestras; Live Performance Australia; Madinter Trade; Music Industries Association; National Association of Music Merchants; Orchestras Canada; Paul Reed Smith; PEARLE*; The Recording Academy; The SOMM - Society of Music Merchants e. V.; Symphony Services Australia; and Taylor Guitars.

CITES will adopt decisions and resolutions to expand and further strengthen the global wildlife trade regime at CITES’ triennial World Wildlife Conference at Palexpo in Geneva, on Aug.17-28.

Governments have submitted 56 new proposals to change the levels of protection that CITES provides for species of wild animals and plants that are in international trade. Many of these proposals seek to ensure that trade in at-risk species remains sustainable by requiring trade permits through a CITES Appendix II listing.  

Information Documents:

• Dalbergia (Spanish, French, English)
• Cedrela (Spanish, French, English)
• Mammoth (Spanish, French, English)
• Musical Instrument Certificate (Spanish, French, English)

Update, June 2019: CoP18 Rescheduled

June 12, 2019 - The 71st meeting of the CITES Standing Committee, the 18th meeting of the Conference of the Parties and the 72nd meeting of the CITES Standing Committee will be held in Geneva, Switzerland from 16 - 28 August 2019 at the following address:

Palexpo
Centre de Congrès
Route François-Peyrot 30
CH-1218 Grand-Saconnex
Geneva, Switzerland

Read the full letter from Secretary-General, Ivonne Higuero

Related Information:

• Notification to the Parties
• CITES Musical Instrument Certificates – Further Improvements Needed (French, English, and Spanish)
• Proposed Listing of Cedrela spp. (Spanish Cedar) on Appendix II without Annotation (French, English, and Spanish)
• Dalbergia - Statement of Principles, Musical Instruments and Appendix II Annotation #15 (French, English, and Spanish)
• Musical Instruments and the Proposed Listing of Woolly Mammoth (Mammuthus Primigenius) on Appendix II without Annotation (French, English, and Spanish)

CoP18 Side Event

Please join us for a NAMM-hosted luncheon, musical performance, and information session: "Musical Instruments and CITES Protected Species"

• Saturday, August 17, 12:30 – 14:00
• Location: Room W, Palexpo
• Learn more.

May 10, 2019

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has revised its Form PPQ505, which certain importers must file when they bring certain Lacey Act-covered products into the U.S.

At the present time, importers of pianos and "other stringed instruments" which fall under HTS Codes 9201 and 9202 must file the form either in a paper version or electronically through the Lacey Act Web Governance System (LAWGS). The revised form can be used now but becomes mandatory on July 1, 2019, includes a more user-friendly layout and nee email contact information.

UPDATE: January 2019 - The proposal to amend annotation #15 (Dalbergia) has been placed on the official CoP18 Docket.

The proposed annotation #15 amendment is as follows: "All parts and derivatives, except:

• leaves, flowers, pollen, fruits, and seeds;
• finished products to a maximum weight of wood of the listed species of 500g per item;
• finished musical instruments finished musical instrument parts and finished musical instrument accessories;
• Dalbergiaparts and derivatives of cochinchinensis, which are covered by annotation #4;
• spp. originating and exported from Mexico, which Dalbergiaparts and derivatives of are covered by annotation #6"

The proposal will be put in the form of a formal resolution, sponsored by a government body and be formally submitted for consideration at the 18th Conference of the Parties in Sri Lanka in May 2019. If adopted, the change would go into effect sometime in mid-summer 2019. For more information, please contact NAMM's Policy Counsel, Jim Goldberg.

USDA-APHIS UPDATE: September 11, 2018

Beginning October 1, 2018, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will notify importers and customs brokers, in most cases by email, when they submit Lacey Act declarations that contain errors. Common errors include: misidentifying the species of imported wood or wood products, listing unlikely country and plant species pairs, submitting incomplete declarations, and/or failing to file a declaration in a timely manner.

NAMM members please note: currently, declarations are only required for pianos and acoustic guitars (HTS categories 9201 and 9202)

Importers who receive a letter of non-compliance do not need to act to correct the declaration in question, but they should take steps to correct future declarations. Repeated failures to correct errors may result in APHIS referring future violations for investigation or potential enforcement action. APHIS is committed to helping importers comply with the Lacey Act’s declaration requirements. Importers who receive a letter of non-compliance and have questions about the error or how to correct it are encouraged to contact the APHIS specialist listed in the letter for guidance.

APHIS also has resources available online to help importers lookup plant genus and species as well as guidance for reporting plant products that are difficult or impossible to identify to the species level, clarification regarding acceptable units of measure, and instructions for reporting shipments that include groupings of certain plant species.

APHIS is responsible for enforcing the Lacey Act plant provision, which requires importers of certain plants and plant products, including items that contain plant materials, to submit a declaration stating the imported plant’s scientific name, value, quantity, and country where the plant was harvested. For more information about the import declaration requirement or the Lacey Act, please visit the APHIS website: www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/lacey_act

2019 NAMM Show International Coalition Presentation: CITES and Musical Instruments

January 23, 2019, update on current and pending changes in international requirements for importing and exporting endangered species by Jim Goldberg, Goldberg and Associates, and Heather Noonan, Vice President for Advocacy at League of American Orchestras

 Powerpoint Presentation and Audio Recording

Exemption proposed for musical instruments, musical instrument parts, and accessories containing dalbergia species

An international working group comprised of musical instrument industry representatives achieved a major victory at the recent meeting of the CITES Standing Committee in Sochi, Russia; recommending a modification to the annotation covering the listing of all dalbergia species. The proposed modification would exempt all finished musical instruments, finished musical instrument parts and finished musical instrument accessories containing dalbergia species from the necessity to obtain an export permit to ship these products internationally, whether for commercial or non-commercial use.

The proposal will be put in the form of a resolution to be presented to the 18th Conference of the Parties in Sri Lanka in May 2019. The same industry working group which worked in Sochi will now work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and similar governmental agencies in other countries to draft appropriate language. If adopted at CoP18, the change would go into effect sometime in mid-summer 2019.

The on-site industry working group in Sochi was headed by Heather Noonan, Vice President for Advocacy for the League of American Orchestras and was supported by NAMM.

Music Industry Working Group Statements:

• Musical Instrument Certificate
• Dalbergia Listing

CITES annual meeting sees States stepping up action against the overexploitation of precious timber and other species. World’s governments demonstrate resolve on full compliance with the global wildlife trade treaty.

Source: www.cites.org

Sochi, October 5, 2018 – The Standing Committee of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) concludes today it's 70th meeting, agreeing on concrete measures to achieve full compliance with international wildlife trade regulations. The meeting held in Sochi, Russian Federation, from 1 to 5 October attracted a record number of participants, with over 700 representatives from more than 80 States and over 100 intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations.

“The CITES Standing Committee dealt with a myriad of wild species and complex issues in the nexus between conservation, trade and development. The seriousness and determination of Parties to bring international wildlife trade rules to their full strength were demonstrated by the frank and constructive debate and decisions made on compliance issues, including the decisions on African rosewood, sei whales, pangolins, elephant ivory and to rectify the mismanagement of trade in CITES-listed species by certain countries”, said David Morgan, Officer-in-Charge of the CITES Secretariat. “This has again shown the real-world impact of CITES when governments around the world are fully committed to respect their obligations under the treaty. The Secretariat commends all Parties on their cooperation and their commitment to implement and enforce the Convention”.

The Standing Committee debated the “introduction from the sea” of sei whales, which is considered as international trade under CITES, from the western North Pacific population by Japan and determined that this activity was for commercial purposes and therefore not in compliance with the Convention. In response to this conclusion, Japan committed to take swift remedial action, and to delay the departure of the concerned research whaling vessels to the western North Pacific and to not authorize any harvest of the sei whales from the high seas in this region until the Standing Committee has assessed Japan's progress in implementing the remedial actions at its next meeting in May 2019. If not satisfied with the action taken, the Committee may take compliance measures.

The compliance measures that the Committee can take include recommendations to suspend trade in some or all CITES-listed species and represent a unique strength of the Convention. The goal of such measures is to achieve long-term and sustained compliance with the Convention thereby ensuring the survival of the species in the wild. In an effort to better achieve the goal and to support countries in achieving full compliance, the Committee agreed that the development of a Compliance Assistance Programme should be considered by the Conference of the Parties in May 2019.

Compliance assistance is already being provided to Lao People's Democratic Republic, another case of non-compliance considered by the Committee at this meeting. While significant efforts have been deployed by Lao PDR to effectively implement and enforce its CITES obligations, the country continues to be affected by illegal trade and faces challenges to ensure that authorized exports are legal and sustainable. The Committee, therefore, decided to recommend to all Parties that they suspend commercial trade in the high-value Siamese rosewood, including finished products, from Lao PDR until it can be scientifically justified that such exports are sustainable. Lao PDR agreed with the recommendations and committed to report on implementation by 1 February 2019.

The Committee also reviewed compliance issues in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where considerable progress had been made since the matter was last discussed late in 2017, to address high levels of illegal trade. However, the DRC is still having difficulties to put the proper mechanism in place to ensure that authorized exports are sustainable and was requested to strengthen its Scientific Authorities by building capacity and allocating enough modern resources for making the necessary scientific studies to determine how much can be traded without threatening the survival of the species in the wild. Finally, in view of these persistent challenges, the Committee recommended that Parties suspend trade in grey parrots and in pangolins from the DRC.

The last compliance matter considered by the Committee concerned exports of African rosewood from Nigeria. Since the beginning of 2018, Nigeria has authorized over 180,000 m3 of the precious timber to China and Viet Nam, without first making sure that these exports will not threaten the survival of the species. The Committee decided to recommend suspension of commercial trade in this timber species until Nigeria has made a non-detriment finding for the species in the country.

CITES Considers Relaxing Strict Rosewood Regulations

Source: The Music Trades Online August 16, 2018

An ad hoc group of music industry representatives was on hand at the July 26 meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in Geneva to make the case for revising the strict regulations governing global trade in all species of rosewood (dalbergia) and select species of bubinga (guibourtias). The rules, which were hastily implemented on January 2, 2017, have placed heavy compliance burdens on instrument makers, particularly guitar and clarinet makers, as well as musicians.

Under the current CITES regulations, "range states" where rosewood is harvested must complete export permits verifying that the wood was taken in compliance with all local regulations. Manufacturers who purchase the wood for use in musical instruments must also secure detailed export permits for each instrument to allow for cross-border shipments. Stiff fines can be levied for failing to secure proper permitting, and instruments are subject to confiscation. The rules have also impacted musicians, requiring them to secure permits to carry an instrument across borders.

the meeting in Geneva, the music industry group advocated for a complete permit exemption for finished musical instruments. They argued that musical instruments account for only a small fraction of the commercially harvested rosewood and bubinga, and that musical instrument manufacturers have a long history of complying with existing CITES regulations on the import and export of unfinished wood. They noted that while burdening instrument makers, the new rules have had no impact on forest conservation. Several environmental groups in attendance voiced support for the musical instrument exemption, but the earliest that the CITES Standing Committee could implement a regulation change would be at its May 2019 meeting in Sri Lanka.

March 23, 2018.

Language accompanying the bipartisan FY18 spending bill encourages the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to continue to work with stakeholders "to address their concerns related to international trade in wood and wood products" with a reference to recent new rosewood rules under the Convention on International Trade in Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES). The report also encourages the agency to develop a domestic electronic permitting system to expedite processing of legal imports and exports. These policy changes could help ease difficulties musicians encounter when traveling with musical instruments. 

April 3, 2018:  The MIA, Musicians’ Union, Association of British Orchestras and International Fund for Animal Welfare strongly lobbied the Government for a musical instrument exemption and we are delighted to see that our teamwork has paid off! Good news for our music shops and musicians alike.

A British ban on ivory sales is to be one of the toughest in the world, the environment secretary has said. Michael Gove said the sale of ivory of any age, with limited exceptions, will be banned in an effort to reduce elephant poaching.

In this BBC report, Mr. Gove added that the new law will “reaffirm the UK’s global leadership on this critical issue, demonstrating our belief that the abhorrent ivory trade should become a thing of the past.”

He said: “Ivory should never be seen as a commodity for financial gain or a status symbol.” Those breaking the ban by selling ivory will face a maximum penalty of five years in jail or an unlimited fine, said the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). It added that the measure is tougher than rules in China and the US. The US currently ban ivory apart from items older than 100 years, as well as items with up to 50% ivory. The Chinese ban exempts “relics”, with no specific date before which these must have been made.

Exemptions:

There will still be some exemptions to the ban, designed to provide “balance to ensure people are not unfairly impacted” and for “items which do not contribute to the poaching of elephants,” the department said.

These will include:

• Items comprised of less than 10% ivory (by volume) and made before 1947.
• Musical instruments made before 1975 and comprised of less than 20% ivory.
• Rare or important items, at least 100 years old, will be assessed by specialist institutions before exemption permits are issued.
• There will be specific exemptions for portrait miniatures painted on thin ivory bases and for commercial activity between accredited museums

During the week of November 27, NAMM in conjunction with the League of American Orchestras, represented the music products industry concerns at a policy meeting (standing committee) of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in Geneva, Switzerland.  The group of global governmental participants and private sector stakeholders met for a week of discussions on agenda items that included the interpretation of current rules related to wood species used in musical instruments and to set the stage for longer-term revisions to be proposed at the next Conference of the Parties (May 2019).

The agenda for the stakeholder group included crafting policy requests and discussion related to dalbergia and recommendations to Annotation 15; and the Musical Instrument Certificate; the Frequent Cross-Border Non-Commercial Movements of Musical Instruments, which was adopted at the CoP 2017.  Once at the meeting, the participants held a special event which addressed opportunities to meet urgent conservation needs while protecting travel and trade with musical instruments. Representatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the European Union management authority, World Wildlife Fund, and World Resources Institute provided remarks at the music event while expressing optimism about finding solutions to the new barriers to travel and trade.

Of the gathering, Heather Noonan, vice president of advocacy for the League of American Orchestras shared “We repeatedly heard CITES parties and non-governmental organizations agree that the terms of the dalbergia listing need to be changed. Conversations in the months ahead will lay the foundation for crafting a solution that prevents threats to the species while also relieving the music community of unnecessary and costly restrictions.”

The most urgent concerns addressed by CITES authorities involved interpreting the terms for current exemptions from the permit requirements of the new Appendix II listing of non-Brazilian rosewood (dalbergia) species. The CITES governing organizations are set to issue a new set of interpretive guidance soon to harmonize implementation across countries.  

The next steps to expand the scope of exemptions from dalbergia permit requirements will occur at the CITES Conference of the Parties in 2019. Here, the 183 treaty members will review recommendations from the participating management authorities. 

NAMM Members attending the 2018 NAMM Show can be a part of this developing conversation at our Import/Export Policy CITES Forum, Thursday, January 25, 2018, 10 - 11am in the NAMM Member Center, Anaheim Convention Center Hall B Lobby. Industry experts Jim Goldberg, Goldberg & Associates; Heather Noonan, American League of Orchestras; and Linda Davis-Wallen, C.F. Martin & Co., Inc, will discuss the current status of the CITES listing of all rosewood species and its impact on international instrument trade.

Since the January 2, 2017 implementation of dalbergia as an Appendix II species, NAMM has been partnering with other music stakeholders to seek clarity from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and international management authorities on the scope of eligible activities under the listing’s exemption for non-commercial activity. To read the international music industry’s statement of principles issued in September of 2017, and to receive ongoing CITES policy updates, please visit this site often.

Update, October 2017

CITES Considers Revising Rosewood Rules
Source: The Music Trades Online, October 2017

CITES Considers Revising Rosewood Rules that were hastily implemented in January of this year. Approximately 25 instrument makers, including representatives from Martin and Taylor Guitars, and Madinter, a leading supplier of tonewoods, were present. Scott Paul, director of natural resource sustainability at Taylor Guitars, said the committee was surprised by the unusually large turnout and “gave us a very sympathetic hearing.”

The CITES regulations in question placed all 200-plus species of Dalbergia, commonly known as rosewood, on “Appendix II” status, requiring manufacturers to secure import and export licenses for all products containing rosewood. For guitar and wind instrument makers, the new rules effectively brought trade to a halt as countries around the world scrambled to develop the appropriate forms and procedures for complying with the new rules. As a result, in the first quarter of 2017, U.S. electric guitar imports plummeted by 25% and acoustic guitar imports were off 31%.

The CITES Plant Committee cannot alter the text of the rosewood regulations. That can only be done by the CITES Committee of Parties (COP) which will next meet in 2019. What the Plant Committee can do is suggest alternative interpretations of the text. Given that even the Committee conceded that the rules were poorly written and full of ambiguous language, “alternative interpretations” hold the promise of easing some of the compliance burdens.

The good news emerging from the meeting was that the 500 scientists, environmental organization representatives, and interested observers in attendance seemed to agree that there were opportunities to scale back some of the burdensome reporting requirements on manufacturers that use rosewood, including guitar and wind instrument companies, without sacrificing the goal of preserving the world’s rosewood forests. The bad news was that the Plant Committee can only make recommendations; any actual changes to the CITES rules have to wait for the full meeting of the “Conference of Parties,” set for some time in 2019 in Sri Lanka.

The original regulations permitted “non-commercial exports of a maximum weight of 10 kilograms (22 lbs.) per shipment” to pass borders without import/export licenses. The Committee suggested interpreting the weight requirement to apply only to the rosewood content of the shipment, not the total weight. In the case of consolidated shipments, such as when orchestras tour and consolidate all their instruments into a single container, the 10 kg threshold is applied to each instrument, not the entire shipment. The Committee is also recommending that shipments for warranty and repair be free from licensing requirements.

The CITES rosewood regulations mandated that manufacturers fully document the chain of custody of a piece of rosewood from the time it was cut until it lands at the loading dock, and to secure licenses to verify the legality of the rosewood used in each finished product slated for export. The music industry has requested to have the finished goods licensing requirement eliminated, arguing that in addition to requiring time-consuming paperwork, it is unnecessary. If the legality of the rosewood entering a factory is verified, why does the process have to be repeated for thousands of individual finished goods? This proposal was initially dismissed but has since gained support and will be presented at the upcoming Conference of Parties gathering. The Plant Committee also discussed the possibility of removing Indian rosewood from the reporting requirements, because it is widely cultivated at tea plantations to provide shade for the tea plants, and cutting is strictly regulated. As one participant noted, “Rosewood in India doesn’t even come close to needing Appendix II protection.”

The CITES rosewood regulations were drafted to slow the trade in rosewood furniture, primarily for the Chinese market, that was leading to indiscriminate logging of rosewood forests. The authors of the regulations acknowledge that they never even considered the impact the rules would have on the musical instrument industry, and according to Paul, “seem open to our suggestions.” However, he cautions that given the politics of the organization and the nuance of drafting rules, “positive changes are not guaranteed.”

Environmental enforcement agencies around the world, like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are emerging as an unlikely ally in rewriting the rosewood rules. Several agency representatives at the meeting complained that generating export licenses for musical instruments was consuming a disproportionate amount of time, diverting personnel from far more pressing issues.

Updated Oct. 10, 2017.

Musical instruments will fall into the exemptions as set out in the UK’s proposals for an Ivory ban. Source: Music Industries Association, Newsletter Oct. 2017.

The Musicians’ Union, Music Industries Association and the Association of British Orchestras are delighted to see that musical instruments will fall into the exemptions as set out in the Government’s proposals for an Ivory ban. In most cases musical instruments with Ivory date back many many years. Some instruments made before 1947 may contain very small amounts of Ivory and since 1989 the use of Ivory in instrument manufacture has ceased. We support the ban with the welcome inclusion of a musical instrument exemption. Without this exemption these highly valuable and unique musical instruments, beautifully crafted to produce the best possible sound, would become devalued overnight.

We are fully supportive of including a definition of ‘musical instrument’ that prevents creating a loophole in the law, based on ensuring that its primary purpose is being played in a live performance along with de minimis thresholds relating to the quantity of ivory it contains.

Paul McManus, Chief Executive of the Music Industries Association said:

‘The musical instrument industry totally supports the aims of the government with the proposed ban on the ivory trade. It is equally delighted with the proposed exemption for musical instruments. There are many, many older instruments in the UK with decorative ivory features and it would be a tragedy for our music shops, their customers and music lovers everywhere if these beautiful products were prevented from being played and bringing joy to both the musicians and the general public. We look forward to working with the Government on this sensible and pragmatic exemption.’

Dave Webster, Live Performance Organiser for the Musicians’ Union says:

‘Instruments are, for many musicians, their pension fund and often the most significant investment a musician can make in their lifetime. We welcome the ban, of course we want to see the end of Elephant poaching for good but we do also need to build in vital protections for musicians and their instruments.’

Mark Pemberton, Director of the Association of British Orchestras says:

‘We fully support the Government’s proposals for an exemption for musical instruments. Many musical instruments owned by orchestras and their musicians pre-date 1947, especially in the field of period instrument performance. We look forward to working with the Government on ensuring that the ban on the ivory trade doesn’t prevent our world-class ensembles from taking the best of British music-making across the globe’

To ensure an exemption is in place is key and we are working closely with the Government and International Federation of Animal Welfare (IFAW) to achieve that.

View the consultation document and the impact assessment.

Updated,  September, 28, 2017

Effective immediately, UPS is resuming shipping of rosewood-only manufactured items (e.g., furniture, musical instruments, car interiors) destined for import into the United States. UPS was able to reinstate service after collaborating with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to develop a process to clear these shipments at Worldport in Louisville, Kentucky.

These shipments are accepted only if the shipper provides a validated (signed) Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) permit for export from the shipper’s origin country.

For more information, contact:

Mark Joerger
International Account Manager, UPS
Mid-South District, Nashville, TN
800-782-7892
615-804-1074

Updated, September 13, 2017

If a shipment is moving under a CITES Permit which has been properly signed and validated prior to export, and it contains a combination of both FWS-type commodities (example, Mother of Pearl) AND rosewood or other wood products that require a CITES permit, then the shipment will be cleared in the US by FWS (U.S. Fish and Wildlife). These shipments are not restricted and can be shipped via UPS.

U.S. NAMM members that import rosewood only as part of manufacturing, assembling or fabricating of instruments should refer to the following links:

• Questions and Answers: Recent Changes to CITES Rosewood Protections
• Shipments containing rosewood only must be imported and cleared through a port designated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)   
    

• UPS contact:

  Karin Acree
  UPS Customs & Trade Compliance Mgr.
  UPS Supply Chain Solutions, Inc. FMC# 000275F
  UPS Ocean Freight Services, Inc. FMC# 016871N
  UPS Europe SPRL, UPS Asia Group Pte. Ltd.
  1930 Bishop Lane, Suite 600, Louisville, KY 40218, USA
  (502) 485-2125 Direct Phone
  (502) 374-1768 Fax
  air1kma@ups.com

Action protecting more than 250 species of rosewood (dalbergia) taken at the recent meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) will have broad implications on the international shipments of musical  instruments containing the wood, including guitars, marimbas and various types of woodwinds.

The CITES delegates at the September 2016 Conference of the Parties in South Africa elected to expand the protection afforded to rosewood by placing some 250 species on Appendix II.  Only Brazilian rosewood, currently protected under a stricter Appendix I listing is excluded.  Although approximately 50 species had previously been listed on Appendix II, the expanded listing comes with an annotation which makes the protection applicable to not only logs and sawn wood, but also what's called "all parts and derivatives," which means finished products like musical instruments.

The expanded listing, which will take effect in early January, 2017 (specific date to be determined), is applicable worldwide and will require all manufacturers and retailers of musical instruments containing one or more rosewood species (excluding Brazilian rosewood) to obtain a permit from the appropriate government regulatory agency (in the United States, it is the Fish and Wildlife Service) if they wish to export one or more instruments outside of the country.  Domestic shipments will not require a permit.

There will undoubtedly be some compliance challenges as the new permit requirement is implemented, particularly with regard to the lead time necessary to obtain a permit prior to an international shipments and the information which must be furnished in the application process.  At the present time, one-time shipping permits carry a $100 fee, although frequent international shippers can obtain a three-year master file permit for $200 and individual shipment permits (valid for six months) at $5 each.

The rosewood listing does include some minor exemptions, including (a) non-commercial shipments (e.g.,, international travel by musicians) with a total weight of 10 kg or less, (b) parts and derivatives of Siamese (aka Thai) rosewood, and (c) all products originating and exported from Mexico.

NAMM plans further activities to keep members informed of the new requirements.  An educational session will be scheduled at the NAMM Show in Anaheim in January, 2017 and, if necessary, an informational webinar will be scheduled before then.  In the meantime, NAMM government affairs representatives will be meeting with FWS officials to determine the most efficient means of compliance.

Before embarking on the permit process for traveling with individual instruments, it's critical to understand as much as possible about the rules and limitations that apply to travel with permits. View tips, best practices, charts, templates, forms, and more.

November 2016 Update: Commercial Rosewood and Bubinga Import/Export Regulations to Take Effect January 2, 2017

Note: U.S. domestic shipments will NOT require permits. Guidelines outlined for rosewood, bubingas and kosso import/export and use of in-stock wood.

Action protecting more than 250 species of rosewood (dalbergia), three species of bubinga (guibourtia) and kosso (Pterocarpus erinaceus) taken at the recent meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) will have broad implications on the international shipments of musical instruments containing these woods including guitars, marimbas and various types of woodwinds.

The CITES delegates at the September 2016 Conference of the Parties in South Africa elected to expand the protection afforded to these tonewoods by placing select species of bubinga (Guibourtia demeusei, Guibourtia pellegriniana, and Guibourtia tessmannii,) kosso (Pterocarpus erinaceus) and 250 rosewood species on Appendix II. Only Brazilian rosewood, currently protected under a stricter Appendix I listing is excluded. The expanded listing comes with an annotation which makes the protection applicable to not only logs and sawn wood, but also what's called "all parts and derivatives," which means finished products like musical instruments.

The expanded listing, which will take effect on January 2, 2017 is applicable worldwide and will require all manufacturers and retailers of musical instruments containing one or more the aforementioned species (excluding Brazilian rosewood) to obtain a permit from the appropriate government regulatory agency (in the United States, it is the Fish and Wildlife Service) if they wish to export one or more instruments outside of the country. Domestic shipments will not require a permit.

September 2017: The music industry and those that supply wood product inputs to music instrument manufacturers strongly support efforts to conserve rosewood and bubinga as well as further study of their biology, conservation, and trade. 

Statement of Principles: Musical Instruments and Appendix II Annotation 15

Annotation #15 pertaining to Dalbergia spp., Guibourtia demeusei, Guibourtia pellegriniana, and Guibourtia tessmannii (bubinga) provides that the rosewood and bubinga Appendix II listings cover:

All parts and derivatives are included, except:
a) Leaves, flowers, pollen, fruits, and seeds;
b) Non-commercial exports of a maximum total weight of 10 kg per shipment;
c) Parts and derivatives of Dalbergia cochinchinensis, which are covered by Annotation #4; and d) Parts and derivatives of Dalbergia spp. originating and exported from Mexico, which are covered by Annotation #6.

Musical Instruments, Rosewoods and Bubinga

The music industry and those that supply wood product inputs to music instrument manufacturers strongly support efforts to conserve rosewood and bubinga as well as further study of their biology, conservation, and trade. Protecting these trees is a priority.

The making of musical instruments requires very limited quantities of rosewood and bubinga. For example, guitars, violins, violas, double basses, clarinets, piccolos, oboes, flutes, xylophones, and pianos that contain rosewood or bubinga typically contain less than 10kg of the material. Marimbas and a small minority of pianos may contain larger quantities of the wood, but will usually not exceed 30kg per instrument. Instrument makers, retailers, and musicians rely on the trade in instruments for their livelihoods and to produce art that uplifts the human experience. In aggregate, these instruments represent an extremely small proportion of the worldwide trade in rosewoods and bubinga.

Increases in the cost of materials can greatly erode marginal profitability and threaten the livelihoods of instrument makers and related businesses (e.g., violin peg makers). For traveling musicians, and particularly for orchestras and ensembles, the non-commercial exemption in Annotation 15 is incomplete and unclear.

The absence of a clear and complete exemption for the movement of musical instruments as finished products presents a significant impact on the trade, hinders international cultural activity, and unnecessarily burdens CITES management authorities. If the Parties do not replace or correct the Annotation 15, the world of music and culture will lose certain instruments that produce the highest quality tones, with no corresponding conservation benefit.

Essential Elements of any Annotation for Rosewoods and Bubinga

1. Whether or not the annotation specifies musical instruments, in effect all trade in musical instruments should be exempted from CITES permitting requirements. This should include:

• Commercial shipments of finished musical instruments or instrument parts that will be incorporated into instruments without substantial modification
• Non-commercial transportation of finished musical instruments
• Musical instruments carried as personal effects and shipped as cargo

2. To the extent the existing Annotation 15 remains:

• Delete the term “non-commercial”
• Clarify its other terms of reference related to non-commercial activity, consolidated shipments, weight limits, and identification and marking requirements, as discussed at the 23rd meeting of the Plants Committee.
• Accommodate all musical instruments

3. Ensure consistency with current practices in customs, shipping, documentation, and declarations procedures.

• Updated CITES information for MI companies in the UK. 
• CITES guidelines for MI companies in EU in German (including Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria) have been prepared by SOMM, GDM and BDMH.
• View a list of names and addresses of institutions responsible for implementation in EU countries.
• Q&A on the implementation in the EU of the listing of Rosewood and Palisander species into CITES appendix II: Clarifications regarding questions asked by CITES authorities.
• International updates are also available at the following websites:
• www.somm.eu
• www.gdm-online.com
• www.musikinstrumente.org
• List of CITES Management Authorities by Country

• November 2016 Letter from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to U.S. timber importers and re-exporters.
• U.S. Companies with questions about this new listing, please contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Management Authority at:

managementauthority@fws.gov
Phone: 703-358-2095
Fax: 703-358-2298

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife PPT presentation concerning commercial import/export requirements
• For specific questions about the designated U.S. ports for CITES-listed plants import, or other enforcement matters related to the CITES listings of Dalbergia and Guibourtia, please contact: Mr. John Veremis with APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine at:

john.veremis@aphis.usda.gov
Phone: 301-851-2347
Fax: 301-734-3560

• Information about APHIS and the designated CITES plant ports
• List of CITES Management Authorities by Country

The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has reached an agreement with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service for FWS to take over validation of CITES documents and inspect and clear imports and exports of musical instruments and other imports which contain both CITES-listed non-living plant species and any wildlife species (regardless of whether they are CITES listed or not).

The agreement, which had been urged by NAMM and other music industry organizations for more than a year, has the effect of streamlining the import and export of instruments containing both listed plants and wildlife species.  The items still have to enter or leave the U.S. through ports designated by either APHIS or FWS.  Prior to the agreement, the ports were limited to those which appeared on both the APHIS and FWS lists.

FWS' notice to the trade. 

Policy Forum, Import/Export, CITES Regulations: Audio Recording

Policy forum with special focus on recent CITES regulations of all species of rosewood implemented Jan. 2, 2017.  Moderator: Mary Luehrsen, Director of NAMM Public Affairs and Government Relations. Panelists: Jim Goldberg, Goldberg, Goldberg Associates; Heather Noonan, Vice President for Advocacy, League of American Orchestras. 

Policy Roundtable, Import/Export, CITES Compliance Q&A: Audio Recording

Jim Goldberg of Goldberg and Associates, League of American Orchestras vice president of advocacy Heather Noonan and Taylor Guitars legal counsel Ethna Piazza address NAMM member questions about CITES compliance and explain significant changes to international trade in instruments containing all species of rosewood.

To streamline the declaration process for importers who typically file paper declarations, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)’s Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) released a new website called the Lacey Act Web Governance System (LAWGS, pronounced “logs”).  This site makes filing Lacey Act Declarations (PPQ Form 505) easier and faster.

To learn more about LAWGS and whether the online tool is suitable for your business, please visit the APHIS FAQ section.

In 2014, the Obama administration announced a new National Strategy for Combatting Wildlife Trafficking initiative, effectively banning the commercial sale of elephant ivory. As a result the White House has directed federal departments and agencies to

Prohibit Commercial Import of African Elephant Ivory: All commercial imports of African elephant ivory, including antiques, will be prohibited.

Prohibit Commercial Export of Elephant Ivory:  All commercial exports will be prohibited, except for bona fide antiques, certain noncommercial items, and in exceptional circumstances permitted under the Endangered Species Act.

Significantly Restrict Domestic Resale of Elephant Ivory:  Finalize a proposed rule that will reaffirm and clarify that sales across state lines are prohibited, except for bona fide antiques, and will prohibit sales within a state unless the seller can demonstrate an item was lawfully imported prior to 1990 for African elephants and 1975 for Asian elephants, or under an exemption document.

Clarify the Definition of “Antique”:  To qualify as an antique, an item must be more than 100 years old and meet other requirements under the Endangered Species Act. The onus will now fall on the importer, exporter, or seller to demonstrate that an item meets these criteria.