Stockpiles of illegal rosewood in Madagascar
The 2019 CITES conference concluded with a significant clarification for musicians and musical instrument dealers and makers. The stipulation in Appendix II for rosewoods and related tree species has been amended so that finished products including up to a maximum of 10kg of the listed wood, and finished musical instruments, along with their parts and accessories, will no longer require a permit for export. The new exemptions go into effect on Tuesday 26 November.
However, this does not change the situation for Brazilian rosewood which is listed in Appendix I, designating the most protected species.