Rosewood restrictions lifted

In 2017 all species in the Dalbergia (rosewood) genus were commercially banned, including finished products with rosewood content. This was a big problem for the music industry as rosewood is usually the tonewood of choice for fingerboards of electric guitars.

From 26 November 2019, CITES permits are no longer required to import or export the following items made from or with rosewood:

• finished musical instruments, finished musical instrument parts and finished musical instruments accessories (see definitions below); and

• finished products to a maximum of 10kg of rosewood per shipment.

These exemptions do not apply to trade in:

• Brazilian rosewood (Dalbergia nigra) which remains in Appendix 1 (banned) as it was originally placed in 1992.

• Dalbergia spp. originating and exported from Mexico: only logs, sawn wood, veneer sheets and plywood require CITES permits for export from Mexico to Australia. 

• Dalbergia cochinchinensis: all parts and derivatives except pollen, seeds, seedling or tissue cultures, stems, and flowers require permits for import or export.

  
  

Furniture, finished timber products containing more than 10kg of rosewood timber per shipment, raw timber, logs, sawn wood, and other timber products containing rosewood, continue to require CITES permits for import and export.

Note: Trade suspensions are currently in place for Dalbergia cochinchinensis (except finished products, including carvings and furniture) from the Lao People’s Democratic Republic; and for Dalbergia spp. from Madagascar.

Definitions

Finished musical instruments

A musical instrument that is ready to play or needs only the installation of parts to make it playable (includes antique instruments).

Finished musical instrument accessories

A musical instrument accessory that is separate from the musical instrument, and is specifically designed or shaped to be used explicitly in association with an instrument, and that requires no further modification to be used.

Finished musical instrument parts:

A part of a musical instrument that is ready to install and is specifically designed and shaped to be used explicitly in association with the instrument to make it playable.

Shipment

Cargo transported under the terms of a single bill of lading or air waybill, irrespective of the quantity or number of containers or packages; or pieces worn, carried or included in personal baggage.

Ten (10) kg per shipment

The weight of the individual portions of each item in the shipment made of wood of the species concerned. The 10 kg limit is to be assessed against the weight of the individual portions of wood of Dalbergia or Guibourtia spp. contained in each item of the shipment, rather than against the total weight of the shipment.

Transformed wood

Wood (including strips, friezes for parquet flooring, not assembled), continuously shaped (tongued, grooved, v-jointed, beaded or the like) along any edges, ends or faces, whether or not planed, sanded or end-jointed.