The Road to CITES
Next Steps in CITES Action on Musical Instruments and Protected Species
July 15, 2024
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is a treaty between 184 countries (including the U.S. and EU) to protect endangered animals and plants from international trade practices that could threaten their existence. Companies that import, export or sell products that contain endangered materials listed in one of three Appendices are required to follow certification requirements outlined in each Appendix, with Appendix I being the most restrictive. The overarching goal of CITES is to support sustainable trade.
For example, guitar manufacturers, bow makers and other vintage retailers that use or sell products containing Brazilian Rosewood or Pernambuco, tortoise shell or ivory must be able to prove legal use of the materials and/or that the product is "preconvention" certified, meaning it was created before the species used was listed as endangered.
It is important to note that in addition to the international treaty, each participating country has its own sustainability laws that must be followed regarding enforcement of the treaty. It is, therefore, necessary to stay up to date on the addition of new species to the existing 40,000 species of plants and animals currently listed, as well as to regulation and enforcement in the associated countries. NAMM will inform its member companies on our involvement in CITES negotiations and outcomes.
Gearing Up for the 20th Convention of the Parties in 2025
International decisions about which species will be listed as threatened and subject to trade restrictions take place about every three years at the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The next convening is planned for the fall of 2025, and the decisions made by the 184 global parties to CITES will impact the capacity to buy, sell and travel with existing and new musical instruments.
As we prepare for the 20th Conference of the Parties Convention in 2025, NAMM and several international music partner organizations participated in the July 8-13, 2024, meeting of the CITES Plants Committee in Geneva, Switzerland. This meeting was a precursor to 2025 treaty negotiations and takes place roughly every three years. The Plants Committee meeting convenes scientists, forest specialists, governmental regulators, enforcement officers and industry stakeholders to consider how implementation of current rules and the status of species should inform next steps in conservation policy.
Left to right: Scott Paul, Taylor Guitars; Arthur Dubroca, International Pernambuco Conservation Initiative;
Jacques Carbonneaux, French Musical Instrument Organization (CSFI); Heather Noonan, League of American Orchestras; Michael Jousserand, Confederation of European Music Industries (CAFIM); John Bennett, International Society of Violin and Bow Makers
Plants Committee Agenda and Considerations
The Plants Committee agenda included multiple discussions about different tree species used to manufacture musical instruments. Meeting participants considered the results of a rosewood study, prioritizing the conservation of species heavily impacted by trade. The meeting also considered new action to specifically document and manage sustainability in the trade of Dalbergia melanoxylon, commonly used in a range of musical instruments.
Music stakeholders submitted an information document on Brazilian Pernambuco, used to make professional bows for stringed instruments, describing significant actions underway to help makers, dealers and musicians better document the legality of their bows and take action to support the conservation of the species.
What's Next
NAMM will send representatives to the Standing Committee Meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, in winter 2025. The Standing Committee Meeting is the next major convening before the Conference of the Parties in fall 2025 where government leaders serve as the voting members to the negotiations. In fact, many voting members are already starting to invite input to help shape their priorities.
In May 2024, NAMM joined U.S. music sector partners in formal comments on actions the U.S. delegation to CITES can take to balance protections for music-related activities, while also advancing conservation goals. Stay up to date and learn more about the current rules and how to help support sustainability in the Know Your Bow campaign and the recent Protected Species and Musical Instruments webinar, produced through NAMM’s partnership with a wide range of musical instrument stakeholders.