States Stepping up Action Against the Over Exploitation of Precious Timber

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.