From the MIA
http://www.mia.org.uk/2017/02/cites-update-help-for-shops-and-customers/
In our latest update following the Rosewood restrictions, here are some guidance notes to help UK retailers, suppliers and consumers alike:
General update
- Applications are currently planned to be processed within 15 days by the authorities. Please let us know if this proves to be the case!
- This time scale starts when they have a complete application. A complete application includes all the supporting information needed to process it, together with the correct fee.
- The cost of licences is set out in a Statutory Instrument (SI) and cannot be altered without the changes being authorised by Parliament.
- For your information, this is a link to the charging schedule for plant specimens:
- https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/355265/cites-ag-ct-02.pdf
- Whilst there is provision in the Regulations for semi-complete (re)-export permits, APHA will not consider these unless an applicant exports exceptionally large quantities of specimens on at least a monthly basis and has a minimum of a 2 year track record of making applications
Specific Shop and Consumer advice
- Annex B listed specimens (ie Rosewood) do not require CITES documents to authorise trade within the EU. Documents are only required for commercial exports to and from third countries outside the EU. However any person can be challenged to show that a specimen was lawfully imported, either before or after listing.
- Some suppliers are advising shops to write the serial number of the guitar on both customer and shop copy of receipts
- This is a very good idea and will show an audit trail, and assist with compliance. However this is not a legal requirement.
- Of course, some (many) instruments do not have serial numbers…..
- In this case, APHA advise pointing out to customers the restrictions in place and providing a receipt with as much information as possible about where the guitar has come from would be helpful and encourage compliance with the requirements of the CITES Regulations.
- We have also been advised that taking photos of instruments as a record is also useful, especially showing distinguishing features
India and Indonesia
- No news yet on India and Indonesia coming up with some sort of Compromise Documentation during the Reservation period
- The EU Commission will advise us when anything gets sorted
We will keep the updates coming and have put some useful links in a CITES box on the right hand of our website.
Comments
I think this is the most relevant part for the average guitarist who wants to take their guitar on holiday.
"Documents are only required for commercial exports to and from third countries outside the EU. However any person can be challenged to show that a specimen was lawfully imported, either before or after listing."
It depends on exactly how anal they are going to be and how they decide to enforce this.. If at all... But if I were carrying mine abroad id make sure I took my receipt.. Just in case...
As for us guitar builders.. Its all a bit of a pain (even though I generally agree that something needed to be done to protect the forests and species or we would just wipe it out)...
http://www.rabswoodguitars.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/RabsWoodGuitars/
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Hmm.. probably.. but not much... I think whatever happens that you will still need a pre 2017 receipt or post 2017 certificate to carry Rosewood abroad or to buy and sell internationally...
http://www.rabswoodguitars.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/RabsWoodGuitars/
My Youtube page
No
Strictly speaking, I don't think it would be legal for you to sell on afterwards though.
sorry should have said wouldn't - adjusted now
There is a "Musical Instruments" Certificate that is valid for up to 3 years which is meant to ease working musician's carrying their instruments across border.
1.6.7
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/cites/info_permits_en.htm
To be honest the certificates are BS anyway - currently everyone is stating the rosewood as "pre-convention" so they don't have to provide evidence of when or how it was harvested. I'm not sure how long we are going to be able to get away with that, although legitimate Indian rosewood won't be an issue, it will simply need another certificate from the loggers to the manufacturer and another cert # to put on the application.
Assuming it is and assuming the goods arrived in to the EU/UK after 1/1/17 then the supplier will have been issued with a CITES number - this in return will have been passed onto the dealer and again this in return should be passed onto you and quoted on the sales invoice along with the serial number - No certificate itself is issued, just the appropriate CITES number which will allow you to sell it within the EU at anytime as required
Used guitars, brought into the EU/UK before 1/1/17 and a dealer invoice, with date of manufacture + serial number should quote
Pre EU Reg 338/97 - This instrument was legally imported into the EU before the rosewoods used were protected by the CITES convention + EU Reg 338/97 – dated 2/1/17