This statement was drafted by an international music industry stakeholder group, including associations of orchestras, musicians, bow makers, musical instruments makers and sellers. Our aim is to give input to the CITES Standing Committee taking place from 7 to 11 March in Lyon, France.
At the 18th Conference of the Parties, music industry stakeholders supported revisions to Annotation #15, which were adopted by the Parties and have entered into effect. Annotation #15 applies to Dalbergia spp. (except Dalbergia nigra), and Guibourtia demeusei, Guibourtia pellegriniana, and Guibourtia tessmannii. Some of those woods can be used for the making of musical instruments.
On behalf of the musical instruments stakeholders participating in the ongoing deliberations of the Annotations Working Group, we observe that the revisions to Annotation #15 adopted at COP18 have substantially supported noncommercial and commercial cross-border movement of musical instruments, while relieving CITES management authorities of unnecessary permit burdens.
Likewise, the interpretive guidance on the definition of finished musical instruments, accesories and parts has supported implementation.
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