My question is simple: after hearing and reading so much about CITES, has anyone ever, (or know of anyone who has), had their instrument confiscated at an international border ?
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CITES - What every bass player should know
- Thread starter Turnaround
- Start date
Recently in Alaska, some guitars were seized as they were on the way to Hong Kong. The shipper (not the manufacturer) didn't file the paperwork, so now the Anchorage school system has some pretty sweet Paul Reed Smith instruments.....
How 10 high-end guitars on their way to Hong Kong wound up in Anchorage classrooms
How 10 high-end guitars on their way to Hong Kong wound up in Anchorage classrooms
CITES Rosewood restrictions have just ended. Going forward there shouldn't be anymore issues.
CITES Ends Rosewood Restrictions for Musical Instruments
TD
CITES Ends Rosewood Restrictions for Musical Instruments
TD
In America, yes, but worldwide you still have to abide by each country's laws. And Brazilian rosewood is still out.
I just bought a bass and the tracking says "being held by customs". Its been three days.
I'm in Canada and its coming from the US. Unfortunately, I forgot to tell the seller not to include the build sheet that says Rosewood right on it....
Should I be worried? I already am.
I'm in Canada and its coming from the US. Unfortunately, I forgot to tell the seller not to include the build sheet that says Rosewood right on it....
Should I be worried? I already am.
D
Someone in the sticky CITES thread recently had an experience that suggests the exceptions for rosewood may have been implemented in Canada, in which case you should be fine. I couldn't find anything official when I tried googling it though. Is three days in customs unusual?
I have bought and sold hundreds of items through eBay, Reverb etc...and I have never seen it before when I enter the tracking number.
But, then again, its been a long tome since I bought from the US. I usually sell.
Hopefully I am just being paranoid, but its a message I have never seen before. Anyone else get the same thing?
Cheers
But, then again, its been a long tome since I bought from the US. I usually sell.
Hopefully I am just being paranoid, but its a message I have never seen before. Anyone else get the same thing?
Cheers
Maybe they're trying to determine if it's Brazilian or not? I've had stuff held by customs when it's shipped USPS and I haven't arranged to pay those dumb brokerage fees.
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Let me know what happens, I'm about to pull the trigger on something from Japan w/ rosewood fingerboard.
Oh, and go ahead and delete my account too, since you seem to be able to second guess me, Mr. Mod
Yes, a number of examples have been mentioned before on this thread.
Canadian luthier Sergei De Jong had a beautiful, custom classical guitar seized at US Customs on its way Stateside. This was a month or two after they started enforcing on musical instruments.
The problem in this instance was inlay materials, not tonewood.
There was no warning- the package simply failed to arrive. The customer assumed it was a routine delay, and called Sergei. I can’t remember whether it was Canadian or US customs that advised De Jong of the seizure. He assumed that they could pay a fine and recover the instrument, but was shocked to learn that it was going to be destroyed with no means to appeal the seizure.
Customs seemed to treat the matter more like an administrative oversight than a matter of criminal intent. In the case of shell inlays, the onus is on the importer, not the shipper. If the customer had known that he needed to purchase a $100-odd Fish & Wildlife importer’s license before having the instrument shipped, he would have had no problems.
Remember that this was early days, and very few people in the guitar community were aware that the regulations had changed. Customs agents were still struggling to understand the new rules, as well.
The destruction of the unlicensed item was the kicker. The explanation theat Sergei and his customer were given, was that allowing people to pay fines wasn’t a satisfactory deterrent.
We are into the Christmas rush. Weird delays and strange re-routings of packages are not unusual at this time of year.
Based on the advice of my luthier friends, I suggest that you try contacting Customs, both at the outbound and inbound ends.
They will most likely know if there’s an issue long before the information trickles up to the shipping company or the seller.
I don’t know much about the hours they work, but maybe the US Thanksgiving is playing a role in this?
Update Dec 2nd - right from Canada Wildlife:
Good afternoon,
As of November 26th, 2019 the CITES permitting requirements for finished musical instruments, finished musical instrument parts and finished musical instrument accessories with rosewood have been lifted (all rosewoods except for Brazilian rosewood, which hasn’t changed since 1992).
Canada will no longer be issuing CITES permits for rosewood instruments, nor will we be expecting or requiring CITES export permits from other countries for these instruments.
Good afternoon,
As of November 26th, 2019 the CITES permitting requirements for finished musical instruments, finished musical instrument parts and finished musical instrument accessories with rosewood have been lifted (all rosewoods except for Brazilian rosewood, which hasn’t changed since 1992).
Canada will no longer be issuing CITES permits for rosewood instruments, nor will we be expecting or requiring CITES export permits from other countries for these instruments.
I have not seen this posted previously - It seems that the restrictions on rosewood for musical instruments has officially ended on November 26th. You can now travel and ship instruments without worry of confiscation and paperwork.
NOTE: Restrictions still apply for Brazilian Rosewood.
CITES rules end for rosewood in musical instruments, official end date announced - gearnews.com
NOTE: Restrictions still apply for Brazilian Rosewood.
CITES rules end for rosewood in musical instruments, official end date announced - gearnews.com
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BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
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- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
I was talking to a friend about this...Still makes me nervous...how will border agents know Brazilian rosewood apart from other varieties. I don't really trust them to be educated on the finer points of 'brown wood'.
Should be able to tell by the wax used.
