CITES regulations
On August 28, 2019, the Conference on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) in Geneva, Switzerland voted to exempt finished musical instruments, parts, and accessories from CITES restrictions on all Rosewood species except Brazilian rosewood. The restrictions on Brazilian Rosewood remain in place.
The exemption for musical instruments is now in effect and CITES member states will no longer issue permits for the export of finished musical instruments, parts, and accessories, bringing an end to much of the headaches that have plagued the musical instruments industry for the last several years.As many Reverb sellers and buyers will know, CITES restrictions on the international trade of rosewood had made the sale of (and sometimes merely the travel with) musical instruments a painful process.
The exemption now in place is the result of a years-long campaign. A coalition of musical instrument manufacturers and other gear industry actors has, since at least 2016, argued that instruments containing rosewood (outside of Brazilian rosewood) should not be restricted by CITES.
When implemented in 2017, the regulations sought to reduce the amount of endangered rosewood, bubinga, and some other tonewoods that are used for manufacturing all kinds of products around the world.
The basic argument made by representatives of the guitar community was that the amount of Rosewood used for making guitars and other musical instruments pales in comparison to the amount used to make furniture, and creates undue burdens for instrument manufacturers, dealers, and buyers. Companies that buy raw Rosewood will still have to abide by separate protections.
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