17th November 2025
The Australian Music Association is part of an international network of music organisations that respond to CITES issues. The peak of our advocacy is the triennial Conference of the Parties (CoP), and there is a major proposal that would affect music products at the upcoming CoP20 in November-December 2025.
Three information documents have been developed by the international music community, responding to agenda items at CoP20. The Annotations and Musical Instrument Certificate documents relate to technical and policy considerations based on intersessional work carried out since CoP19 in 2022, and reports to be considered at this CoP.
Annotations are a tool used to exempt specific categories of products from permit requirements for an Appendix II listed species. This has proven to be extremely valuable in streamlining the regulation of several kinds of Rosewood, African Mahogany, Permambuco and other species without requiring permits for all musicians with instruments containing those species. Annotation #15 in particular has been identified as a useful model and there are recommendations for future use of Annotations as part of the CITES process.
Musical Instrument Certificates are another tool that has been developed to streamline the implementation of permit requirements, in this case for Appendix I (the ‘most protected’) species such as Brazilian Rosewood and Ivory. Australia has not yet implemented MICs but does play a role in the policy committee that is considering a report on this issue. Our industry supports MICs as a constructive way of allowing CITES to protect endangered species while managing the impact on low-risk movement of goods such as vintage musical instruments with pre-CITES (legally obtained) wood.
The major issue for us at CoP20 is Permambuco, the wood widely used in bow making for centuries but under threat in its only range state, Brazil. The AMA joins the international community of music organisations in condemning illegal trade and seeking alternative solutions for the regulation of this species.
In Australia the AMA has been in contact with other peak bodies that deal with stringed instrument players, and two in particular (Symphony Services International, Live Performance Australia) are part of the same international network. Others are affiliated with international organisations that are part of this coordinated response, such as the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA, including Musicians Australian and the Symphony Orchestra Musicians Association) which is affiliated with the International Federation of Musicians (FIM).
The AMA is a constructive partner and advocate in navigating CITES issues from the perspective of the music industry, and is in direct contact with the Australian CITES Management Authority.
CoP20 takes place from 24th November to 5th December, 2025 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Information documents:
