CITES

The international convention that regulates trade in endangered species, which since 2017 has covered most rosewood and similar guitar woods.

Rosewood species were moved to Appendix II, meaning commercial international shipments of finished guitars containing them need documentation proving the wood was legally obtained. Ivory, tortoiseshell and Brazilian rosewood sit in the stricter categories, and instruments travelling across borders for a tour may need permits or passports for their materials. The practical effect on players is mainly paperwork and caution when buying or shipping instruments built from restricted species.

Example: a guitar with an Indian rosewood fingerboard bought abroad and shipped home may need a permit and a certificate of origin that a maple-necked instrument does not.

CITES

See also