CITES: How Rosewood Regulations Reshaped the Guitar Industry
In January 2017, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) implemented stringent regulations on all rosewood species under the genus Dalbergia, including East Indian rosewood, Honduran rosewood, and cocobolo. These measures aimed to address concerns about over-harvesting driven by rising demand, particularly from China’s furniture industry. The abrupt enforcement caught the music industry off-guard, significantly hindering global trade in guitars and other instruments as manufacturers scrambled to comply with the new permitting requirements.
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Recognizing the unintended burdens on instrument makers and performers—especially since the music industry accounts for approximately one-tenth of one percent of rosewood consumption—CITES revised its regulations in August 2019. The amendments exempted finished musical instruments, parts, and accessories containing rosewood from permit requirements, thereby streamlining cross-border movements for musicians and manufacturers alike.
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It’s important to note that Brazilian rosewood (Dalbergia nigra) remains under stricter protection (Appendix I) and continues to require specific documentation for international trade.