Purpleheart and Pau Ferro replace CITES timbres
As an effect of the International Trade of Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna meeting on 25th September and 4th October in Johannesburg Rosewood (Dalbergia *) and Bubinga (Guibourtia) were pulled on the Red List of protected species.
Although we’ve got used to additional paperwork, we decided to take a step further and stop using these two wood types as our little contribution to protect the endangered flora.
After months of research we’ve decided to use other wood similar in tone and looks. Bubinga, mostly found in necks of Duvell Elite, will be replaced with Purpleheart (Peltogyne Spp.), while Pau Ferro (Machaerium spp.) will be a substitute for Rosewood fretboards.
We will gradually supersede both timbers in the current orders and expect to complete the transition to the new materials in Q4 of 2017.
We will do our best to make instruments with their initial specifications. However, in specific cases we might need to use the new materials. Additionally, having delivery times in mind, we do not allow to choose between these wood types in specific instruments.
New CITES Regulations
During the last meetings of the International Trade of Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna, known as CITES, on 25th September and 4th October in Johannesburg decided with immediate effect that rosewood (Dalbergia *) and bubinga (Guibourtia) are pulled on the Red List of protected species.
It is important that trade and production of these species have not been banned completely. However, since January 2017, the import and trade to third countries (non EU) of these wood species and products made of these woods require appropriate licenses and CITES documents. In the future, the documents confirming the legal trade of these species can be checked at any time in any country in the world.
From 2nd January 2017 CITES regulations will cover the following types of wood:
Rosewood (Dalbergia *) All species
Bubinga (Guibourtia)
Guibourtia tessmannii (Bubinga)
Guibourtia Pellegrini (Bubinga)
Guibourtia demeusei (Bubinga)
We declare that we have already taken steps to legalize the entire inventory of completed instruments and wood located in our factory. What’s more, all current and future deliveries will be certified in accordance with the provisions of CITES. However, the Polish Ministry of Environment Protection estimates that the process of obtaining the certificate will take from 6 to 8 weeks. Therefore we expect some delays of all instruments scheduled from the end of December 2016 to February 2017.
We also recommend that each of you contacted the local office for the environment. It is important that you were well informed about the requirements and regulations how to manage the inventory of the above-mentioned species of wood from 2nd January 2017.
