CITES permit?

[harrison phipps]

I just finished a bluegrass guitar out of Honduran Rosewood.  This species is listed in CITES appendix III and I believe it needs a permit to legally enter some countries and return to the USA.  I am trying to help its new owner obtain a permit.  It would be the type for multiple entries as the owner tours out of country several times a year. Anybody gone through this?

[Pierre-Antoine Roiron]

I've had this problem to get my guitars from France to the Montreal Guitar Show and then back. You have to contact your customs departement (they will make the permits) and you can get all the info from your local CITES representant. Here's a link that may help you :

http://answers.usa.gov/system/selfservice.controller?CONFIGURATION=...

[Jeff Silver]

Beautiful instrument.  I wish I had an answer to your question.  I can only say that it is hard to believe what we have come to when we need a permit to carry our guitar into the country.  

[harrison phipps]

I got a response from US Fish & Wildlife regarding the Honduran Rosewood.  In CITES Appendix III of listed species, HRW Dalbergia stevensonii, is listed with a footnote that indicates restrictions are only for "Logs, sawn wood and veneer sheets".  It seems that the guitar is OK to take back & forth across borders, with respect to CITES restrictions anyway.

[Pierre-Antoine Roiron]

Finish products don't have the same status than raw material. Good to know.

[Jeff Highland]

Probably the most useful thing you can do for your customer is to give them a letter from you listing all the species used in the construction of the guitar using correct botanical names and weights of each used in the guitar, date and location of construction, serial number etc.

Then If he ever does have to prove it is not a restricted species at a border, he has some documentation against the inspector's guesses.

[William F.Eden]

This thing of imports is getting a little out of hand .I have just been told by my supplyer of Abalone shell  that some of the shells have been band from harvest as well.  The last shipment i recived was taged .So what will be next??   Bill............