Cop20 - 20th session of the Conference of the Parties 2025

From left to right: Lucineide Nery Estrela Cordeiro (lawyer, Brazil) Eugênio Estrela Cordeiro (lawyer, Brazil), wife of Pierre Guillaume, Pierre Guillaume (bow maker, Belgium), Edda Starck (academic, Germany/UK), Anke Gerbeth & Thomas Gerbeth (bow makers, Vienna, president of IPCI Germany), grandniece of Ana Cristina de Siqueira Lima, Ana Cristina de Siqueira Lima (president of FUNBRASIL, Brazil), Edwin Clément (bow maker, France, Secretary General IPCI France Europe), kneeling Jacques Carbonneaux (CSFI), Paul Sadka (bow maker, UK, IPCI France -Europe), Arthur Dubroca (bow maker, France, President IPCI France -Europe), Heather-Noonan (League of American Orchestras, USA), John Bennet (Alliance, EILA, IPCI USA)

15 December 2025 - Return of COP20 CITES, which took place in Samarkand from 24 November to 5 December 2025

At the 20th Conference of the Parties to CITES (CoP20), the Parties decided to maintain pernambuco (Paubrasilia echinata) in Appendix II of the Convention, while adopting a new Annotation #10 specifically designed to respond to the realities of the music world.

This decision is the result of in-depth dialogue between CITES authorities and representatives of the music industry. It aims to protect the species in the long term, while ensuring the continued manufacture, use and circulation of bows.
The new Annotation #10, agreed by consensus in a specific working group and adopted in plenary session on 5 December, will come into force on 5 March 2026:
The following are subject to CITES permits: "All parts and derivatives, except finished musical instruments, finished musical instrument accessories and finished musical instrument parts for non-commercial trade only for the purpose of paid and unpaid performance, personal use, display, loan, competition, teaching, appraisal, or repair, provided that this does not change the ownership and that such transport is not for sale, transfer or disposal of the specimen outside of the owner’s usual State of residence. Zero quota for wild-harvested specimens (source code W) traded for commercial
purposes."
1 - This means that the trade in finished bows (outside the EU) will now be subject to CITES permits.
2 - The following are exempt from CITES permits: non-commercial movements of finished bows solely for the purposes of:
a) paid and unpaid performance,
b) personal use,
c) display,
d) loan,
e) competition,
f) teaching,
e) appraisal, or repair,

provided that this does not change the ownership and that such transport is not for sale, transfer or disposal of the specimen outside of the owner’s usual State of residence.

Important: Musicians must therefore be able to demonstrate during any customs inspection that the movement of their bow corresponds to one of the above exemptions.

Please note: this revision of Annotation #10 is accompanied by several decisions constituting a roadmap, which have been adopted in order to strengthen the requirements concerning existing stocks and traceability (roadmap to be presented to you at a later date).
The implementation of this ‘package’ (the revised Annotation #10 and these Decisions) will be closely scrutinised throughout the three-year period leading up to CoP21 (scheduled to be held in Panama in 2028), particularly during the CITES Plants and Permanent Committees, and then at the next CoP.
Its implementation must therefore be effective as soon as possible, and we will work with the relevant authorities without delay and without waiting for the European Regulation transposing these new provisions into EU law to enter into force next March/April. Official document