Exotic Rosewoods availability in AUS. CITIES?

[WJ Guitars]

Recently, I noticed Aaron of 'Fenech' Guitars, Miami QLD, has secured al limited number of back and side sets for new guitar builds of:

"Madagascar Rosewood-Dalbergia baronii and Bois De Rosa Dalbergia maritima (also from Madagascar)"

This beautiful timber for guitar builds. I have not checked how Aaron was able to secure these sets in view of the CITIES regulations. Or maybe they could have been sourced locally in Australia?

I know Aaron was able to purchase and import a vast supply of Fijian Mahogany and was able to work through all the paperwork requirements to successfully achieve this order. 'Fenech' Guitars are certainly benefiting with this supply of Mahogany.

When I surf the internet eg Stewmac and others overseas sellers they are not able sell and export Rosewood back and sides sets to Australia in view of CITIES restrictions. I be interested to know whether there are now ways legally to import Rosewood back and side sets to Australia. I understand that Bob Taylor from 'Taylor' Guitars has had some meetings and influence with CITIES. This has resulted in the lifting some aspects of the restrictions.

As a local Aussie I would love to be able to purchase some of the exotic rosewoods sets. Does anyone know whether or not restrictions on importing rosewoods to build guitars in Australia has changed?

Wayne

[kiwigeo]

I know Aaron was able to purchase and import a vast supply of Fijian Mahogany and was able to work through all the paperwork requirements to successfully achieve this order. 'Fenech' Guitars are certainly benefiting with this supply of Mahogany.

As far as I know Fijian Mahogany isn't considered endangered and it's not native to Fiji. Ive seen it for sale from numerous sources. I picked up bunch of FM neck blanks from local luthier here in Adelaide....he had a lot of the stuff from when he was running his furniture making business.

[peter.coombe]

As far as I know it is not possible to legally import any species of Dalbergia back and side sets into Australia without the CITES paperwork. Some items are ok, but only if they are "finished". So, Indian Rosewood bridges, slotted fingerboards are ok, but I think that only applies to Indian rosewood, not other rosewood species. You can import Indian Rosewood direct from India if the Indian exporter takes care of the CITES paperwork. It is on Appendix II, so it is the exporter who is responsible for the CITES paperwork. Al other Dalbergia species are more restricted so it gets difficult or impossible.

Fiji Mahogany, so long as it was harvested in Fiji is not on CITES because it is not native to Fiji and is grown in plantations that were originally planted more than 80 years ago by the British. A lot of Fiji Mahogany is marketed as Honduran Mahogany, which is on CITES Appendix II, and that is where things can get complicated.

[WJ Guitars]

Thanks Peter and Martin for your comments re: Rosewood and Mahogany.

See below, I have copied some article extracts and digging into more information looks hard and involved. See also Stewmac selling example. It appears that the seller would have to have the paperwork in order to export it overseas.

Wayne

[kiwigeo]

I think the driver for Stewmac and others not exporting CITES listed woods outside US is the time and effort required to complete the paperwork. If it were me I don't think I could be blowed either.....I've just spent a couple of weeks trying to get a working with children clearance application in via SA govt website.