ROSEWOOD WOES
I have heard (and read) that there are new CITES regulations on all species of rosewood (not just Brazilian rosewood). Does this mean that EU bureaucrats will storm my house in the middle of the night and seize my beloved Squier Strat? And send me to a Brussels work camp for 25 years’ hard labour?
Actually, more seriously, what exactly do we need to know about our guitars? Name withheld in case of raids
Forgive us a little chuckle, even though this is pretty scary. You might be aware that one of the things that woke everybody up about Brazilian rosewood in recent years was some poor German geezer getting raided for a PRS guitar with a Brazilian ’board! It’s in the same category as ivory. Gulp. However, not all rosewood is protected under CITES Appendix I like Brazilian…
The most recent legislation came into effect on 2 January
2017 and puts all species of Dalbergia (rosewood) and three species of Guibourtia (bubinga) on the CITES Appendix II list. What it means is that importing or exporting any of those species outside of certain boundaries (usually national) requires the relevant CITES documentation. If anybody has a stockpile of those species imported before 2 January 2017, they must apply for preconvention certification.
So, as it stands, your Fender Strat, for example, with a rosewood ’board is absolutely fine to own and use. You can travel freely with it wherever you like (as long as it’s with you) and doesn’t contain over 10kg of rosewood: unlikely. Selling it is fine within your own country, but if you want to export it – to the US, for example (or indeed buy a guitar from the US if you are in the EU) – that now requires certification. Let’s say that more clearly: importing ANY guitar that uses rosewood to the UK from outside of the EU is illegal without the proper certification.
It’s important to understand that Brazilian rosewood remains a separate case and is still covered by more stringent legislation. This new legislation is likely to have a significant impact on the guitar industry given the extensive use of Indian rosewood in particular.