Looks like the guitar world has been turned upside down.
This is not fun, it's a bit of a nightmare for manufacturers and distributors/dealers, etc.
From January 2nd 2017 any guitar containing any rosewood (Appendix 2 or Appendix 1) now has to have a CITES Export permit from the country it's being exported from and then a CITES Import permit from the country it's being exported to.
Thing is, you first have to get a copy of the Export permit before you can apply for your Import permit, which means a delay of anything up to 2 to 3 months if everything goes according to plan.
Luckily in Japan the process is pretty quick, about 2 to 3 weeks for the Export permit.
China however takes a lot longer, in China they need two Export permits, one from Department of Forestry and one from the Environmental Department, takes about two months to get both.
Only then can you apply for your Import permit and depending on your country the delay can be at least a month or more.
However, if you're traveling with a guitar that contains rosewood (Appendix 2) you're OK as long as the total weight of the guitar is under 10kg.
If however you're traveling with a few guitars and the total weight (excluding cases) is more than 10kg you'll require a permit.
This doesn't apply to Brazilian Rosewood which is Appendix 1, you have to get a Re-Export permit if you're traveling with a guitar containing Brazilian Rosewood.
I can tell you that thousands of shipments/orders from the big manufacturers to countries all over the world are ON HOLD.
This is not fun, it's a bit of a nightmare for manufacturers and distributors/dealers, etc.
From January 2nd 2017 any guitar containing any rosewood (Appendix 2 or Appendix 1) now has to have a CITES Export permit from the country it's being exported from and then a CITES Import permit from the country it's being exported to.
Thing is, you first have to get a copy of the Export permit before you can apply for your Import permit, which means a delay of anything up to 2 to 3 months if everything goes according to plan.
Luckily in Japan the process is pretty quick, about 2 to 3 weeks for the Export permit.
China however takes a lot longer, in China they need two Export permits, one from Department of Forestry and one from the Environmental Department, takes about two months to get both.
Only then can you apply for your Import permit and depending on your country the delay can be at least a month or more.
However, if you're traveling with a guitar that contains rosewood (Appendix 2) you're OK as long as the total weight of the guitar is under 10kg.
If however you're traveling with a few guitars and the total weight (excluding cases) is more than 10kg you'll require a permit.
This doesn't apply to Brazilian Rosewood which is Appendix 1, you have to get a Re-Export permit if you're traveling with a guitar containing Brazilian Rosewood.
I can tell you that thousands of shipments/orders from the big manufacturers to countries all over the world are ON HOLD.