CITES - Important Update

The EU Regulation 2019/2117 for the implementation of the 18th CITES-COP listing amendments has been published and came into effect on 14.12.2019.

At the 18th CITES conference in August 2019, specific excpetions have been made, which apply to "finished musical instruments", "finished musical instrument parts" and "finished musical instrument accessories" if they are built from CITES II affected timbers of the genus Dalbergia spp. (Rosewood/Rosewood) or from wood of the three Bubinga species Guibourtia tessmannii, Guibourtia pellegriniana or Guibourtia demeusei.

Excluded are the rosewood subspecies Dalbergia nigra and Dalbergia cochinchinensis which retain their protection status.

That implies, all Ortega Guitars instruments can be sold again without species protection permits (CITES certificate) in the future.

Ortega Guitars  has not used and will not use any of the rosewood subspecies mentioned above (Dalbergia nigra, Dalbergia cochinchinensis)

Since the protection of rare woods is very important to us, we have already looked for and found alternatives to the endangered wood species.

Cites Regulations (Past)

Since January 2017, the whole world of musical instrument makers, suppliers and users are talking about CITES regulations & laws. This produced a lot of uncertainty and open questions. We want to inform you about the most important facts of the CITES regulations and also give you materials that you can use to solve the situation properly. 

First of all: You are not comitting a crime by owning or purchasing a music instrument that contains wood species that are described in the following text.

What is CITES?

CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) regulates the international trade in threatened plants (and wild life animals).

What is new about CITES II?

All rosewood types (latin: Dalbergia) and other tropical timbers achieved a higher ranking (Rank 2) in the CITIES appendix during a meeting of the CITES conference in Autumn 2016. They are no longer listed in appendix 1, but in appendix 2. Brazilian Rosewood (Dalbergia Negra) has already been listed in appendix 1 for serveral years, meaning the trade with these timbers was already regulated more strictly. Though this fact does not mean that the trade of the listed tropical timbers is generally forbitten. The regulation have been updated with some new rules all manufacturers and consumers have to follow. These new regulations are valid since January 2nd, 2017.

What is the goal of CITES II?

CITES states that their main goal is to optimize the documentation of legal trading routes and to make the reforestation of the current population of threatened plants more sustainable.

This general  introduction leads us now to the main effects on the consumer market.

Buying a new guitar in 2017

Ortega Guitars provides all neccessary and requested information to our dedicated dealers about the woods being used on our guitars. If you are buying a new Ortega Guitar in 2017 your dealer will pass on the information about all CITES II affected timbers through the invoice you receive as a buyer. There are no other documents needed.

Owning an CITES II affected guitar that was bought before 2017

The ownership of instruments that are affected by CITES is not prohibited. You do not need a special certificate for your private use or for travelling with an affected instrument in the European Union.

Travelling with your instrument outside the EU

If you want to traveel with an CITES II affected instrument outside the EU it is very important that the overall weight of the CITES II listed timbers does not exceed the 10 kg mark. Ortega Guitars do not come with more than appx.  250 gr -  800 gr of rosewood  in total. There will not be any problem, even if you are going to take several guitars with you. Though you should consider to request a traveller pass at your local environmental authority.

The federal office for nature explaines the context of the musical instrument certification:
The document „221“ is exclusively for personal use, for performances at music events, recording sessions, for educational purposes or competitions . It exlcudes sales & the transfer of ownership to other persons.

This means: You are allowed to take your instruments to countries outside the EU if you are using it to make and create music. But the certificate „221“ does not allow you to sell or trade your instrument during your travels. 

 Selling a guitar that contains CITES II affected woods

If you want to sell a new guitar with CITES II affected parts you should be able to add informations about the concrete type and amount of CITES II affected woods used on the guitar. Please follow this link to download our list of instruments affected by CITES II: 

List of instruments affected by CITES IIThis list contains only old models, that have been produces before 2018. Most of our current production models have been updated with alternativ woods.

If you want to sell a used guitar you should consider to register your instrument at your local environmental authority. If you live in Germany you can use this form for the registration. Please also add the invoice, dated pictures or other proofes declaring that the instrument was bought or was in your possesion before 2017 to the form.

For more information about the new CITIES II regulations of tonewood timbers please contact your local environmental authority. German customers can therefore contact the Bundesamt für Naturschutz.

For more informations about CITIES II affected instruments built by Ortega Guitars please feel free to contact us directly at: info@ortegaguitars.com