From: radams@cerritos.edu
Newsgroups: rec.music.classical.guitar
Subject: Re: Brazialian Rosewood 
Date: 14 Dec 92 16:48:13 PST
Followup-To: rec.music.classical.guitar
Organization: Cerritos College, Norwalk CA

In article <basinski-141292111000@lully.biosci.arizona.edu>, 
basinski@biosci.arizona.edu (Mark Basinski) writes:

> In article <19506.2b28ed58@levels.unisa.edu.au>, xarjp@levels.unisa.edu.au
> wrote:
>> 
>> I see that Brazilian Rosewood has been placed on the endangered species
>> list.
>> This means, I believe, that trade in objects (guitars) constructed from 
>> this material is forbidden (criminal offence), regardless of the time of 
>> construction of the object. International transport of objects constructed 
>> from the material will result in customs seizure of the object, without 
>> compensation.
>    There's a good article by luthier R. Brune' about the situation with
> brazilian rosewood and the recent international regulations on trade in
> the latest SOUNDBOARD (winter issue?). If anyone's interested, e-mail
> me, and if I get really bored, I'll type up a summary and post it.

I have it with me right now so I will try to summarize some of the points
in the article.

>    I don't have the article with me, but I believe he said that trade in
> objects (like guitars) is permitted if the date of construction is before
> a certain time, BUT there is the issue of cumbersome export permits, etc.

He said that there will be no more exports of Brazilian rosewood in any
form cut after June 10, 1992. The CITES (Convention on International Trade
in Endangered Species) treaty allows CITES material and items to be legally
traded internationally but only with very cumbersome export permits. U.S.
exports would require permits issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Office of Management Authority and each permit would cost $25 and take
about 2 months to process. Some countries like Japan and Germany are
additionally requiring import permits.

> In short, if you're traveling with a guitar, you shouldn't have problems,
> but if you are trying to export instruments (or import) you probably
> will. The article gave some suggestions about who to write to (and who
> not to).

The article mentioned that a partial shipment of vintage guitars was seized
by Japanese Customs officials at Narita Airport for not complying with export
permit regulations. The article says, regarding musicians carrying instruments
that they are hopeful that the musical industry in various countries will
pressure the CITES organization to change the method of implementation (it
is common for guitar makers to stockpile materials such as Brazilian rosewood
for many years so they need to have some exemption), "and also to create
a uniform worldwide recognition of personal exemption for musicians traveling
with instruments containing Brazilian rosewood, which is now not universally
recognized."

Mr. Brune requests donations to Carlo Balistrieri (environmental lawyer, hired
by a number of folks in the music industry who got togther, who is handling
this case to appeal for some changes in the methods of enforcing CITES
provisions) 106 Collins Street, Oconomowoc, WI 53066 (414-567-8600) - the
donations are needed to cover legal fees which have already reached into
the thousands of dollars. Balistrieri has proposed to the standing committee
of CITES to change the method of export from requiring a separate permit
for each export to one in which the dealers could register and become
licensed to export Appendix I (of CITES treaty) materials, which would greatly
streamline the export process, while still adhering fully to the intention
of the Treaty.

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	Roger Adams
	radams@cerritos.edu               To those in whom love dwells,
	Cerritos College                  the whole world is one family.
	11110 Alondra Blvd                             A Hindu Proverb
        Norwalk, California 90650
	USA        		          292 Dwapara :-)
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