Cop19 - Nineteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES

Reminder of the first pernambuco listing

At Cop14, held in The Hague, Netherlands from June 03 to 15, 2007, the species Caesalpinia echinata, which became synonymous with Paubrasilia echinata in 2019, following the taxonomic changes adopted at CoP18, was included in Appendix II with annotation #10 specifying that international trade in :

" Logs, sawn wood, veneers, including unfinished wooden articles used for the manufacture of bows for stringed musical instruments are subject to CITES permits "

The implementation date was set september 13, 2007.

Brazil's proposal 49 for Cop19

In June 2022, Brazil issued proposal 49 to request the transfer of pernambuco from Appendix II to Appendix I.

Following an unprecedented mobilization of the musical instrument sector and musicians(see the work carried out), Brazil's proposal was not adopted, and the species Paubrasilia echinata is maintained in Appendix II with the following amendment to annotation #10:

" Are subject to CITES permits, all parts, products and finished products, except finished musical instruments, accessories for finished musical instruments and parts of finished musical instruments re-exported."

The effective date of the amendment to annotation#10 is February 23, 2023. From this date, all pernambuco parts and finished products exported from Brazil will be subject to the CITES permit system. Re-export of finished bows from countries other than Brazil is not subject to CITES certification.

Additional decisions adopted at cop19 for Paubrasilia echinata

The amendment to the listing is accompanied by 5 areas of work set out by CITES for which archers and musicians will have to commit themselves (see the text of the amendment)

To the Secretariat

19.249 The Secretariat:

a. send a notification to Parties and relevant stakeholders requesting information on Paubrasilia echinata, including developments, national and international enforcement measures, trade and marking of bows ;
b. subject to external funding, in consultation with the Plants Committee and in collaboration with expert stakeholders, assess the possibilities of establishing a traceability system to record the provenance of Paubrasilia echinata (Brazilian wood) bows produced, acquired or transported by the company brazil) produced, acquired or transported by owners, musicians and manufacturers; and
c. prepare a report on its findings relating to the implementation of paragraphs a) and b) above and submit any resulting recommendations to the Standing Committee session.

To the Plants Committee

19.250 The Plants Committee advises the Secretariat on the implementation of paragraph b) of decision 19.249.

To the Parties, in particular those that are countries of origin, transit and destination of Paubrasilia echinata

19.251 Parties, and in particular those that are countries of origin, transit and destination of Paubrasilia echinata, are invited to:

a. continue their national anti-fraud efforts, including investigations into illegal trade in Paubrasilia echinata, and complement them with joint anti-fraud measures ;
b. consider registering stocks of Paubrasilia echinata, where appropriate;
c. offer, as appropriate, capacity-building support to Brazil and other Parties to improve implementation of the Paubrasilia echinata listing; and
d. provide information to the Secretariat, as requested in decision 19.249.

To governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and other entities

19.252 Governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and other entities are invited to:

a. support the implementation of the Paubrasilia echinata listing, in particular :

i. by exploring ways to improve the traceability of finished bows including, for example, developing and implementing a unique and individual marking system and raising awareness of the species among producers and consumers (particularly musicians),
ii. working with Brazil to identify existing Brazilian plantations of Paubrasilia echinata that could be considered source code A or Y, with a view to establishing a sustainable supply chain; and

b. provide information to the Secretariat, as requested in decision 19.249.

To the Standing Committee

19.253 The Standing Committee :

a. review any reports from the Secretariat resulting from the implementation of decision 19.249, as well as any other relevant information brought to its attention, concerning the implementation of the inclusion of Paubrasilia echinata in Appendix II; and
b. prepare recommendations for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its 20th session, including recommendations relating to the development and implementation of a traceability system for specimens of Paubrasilia echinata.