Pearle* & FIM welcome CoP18 decision to ease CITES permit requirements when travelling with musical instruments | Press Release

Brussels / Paris, 3 September 2019

On August 28th, 2019, the parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), meeting in Geneva for the CoP18, adopted four resolutions that represent positive answers to longstanding requests of the music sector.

Consensus was reached on the need to initiate a critical effort to streamline and simplify permit requirements for “the international movement of CITES specimens where the trade will have a negligible impact on the conservation of the species concerned”, which can include the non-commercial cross-border movement of musical instruments.

Concrete improvements for the music sector resulting from CITES CoP18 also relate to the use of rosewood in musical instruments, their parts and accessories as well as cross-border traveling with these instruments, thanks to permit exemptions.

Orchestras, ensembles, music bands and individual musicians are impacted by CITES rules: when travelling internationally with instruments that contain parts of protected species – such as rosewood, lizard, tortoise shell or elephant ivory –, a musical instrument certificate is required for international cross-border activities. The making, buying and selling of musical instruments is also affected by CITES requirements.

Pearle* - Live Performance Europe and FIM, the International Federation of Musicians, express their thanks to all partners of the music coalition who attended CITES negotiations in Geneva on behalf of the music sector, in particular the League of American Orchestras, the French Musical Instrument Organization (CSFI) and the International Association of Violin and Bow Makers (EILA).

 

Associations that are part of the coalition of the music sector:

League of American Orchestras, American Federation of Musicians, Argentinian Association of Musical Instruments Manufacturers, Association of British Orchestras, Australian Music Association, Brazilian Music Industry Association (ANAFIMA), The National Association of German Musical Instruments Manufacturers, C.F. Martin & Co., Confederation of European Music Industries (CAFIM), Dismamusica, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, ForestBased Solutions, LLC, French Musical Instrument Organization (CSFI), International Alliance of Instrument and Bow Makers for Endangered Species, International Association of Violin and Bow Makers (EILA), International Federation of Musicians (FIM), International Wood Products Association, Japan Musical Instruments Association, Madinter, Music Industries Association, National Association of Music Merchants, Orchestras Canada, Paul Reed Smith, PEARLE*, The Recording Academy, The SOMM - Society of Music Merchants e. V., and Taylor Guitars.

 

Contact FIM:

Benoît Machuel, General Secretary

21 bis, rue Victor Massé – 75009 Paris, France

Tel. +33 (0)145 263 123

office@fim-musicians.org

www.fim-musicians.org

 

Contact PEARLE* Live Performance Europe:

Anita Debaere, Director

Square Sainctelette 19/6 – B-1000 Brussels

Tel +32 2 203 62 96

anita@pearle.eu

www.pearle.eu

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