Having a Les Paul built in the US and wanting to ship it to the UK. I've read lots online about CITES and the need for appropriate import/export forms but I wonder what people's experiences have been so far this year...
Anyone have any 'friends' who snuck rosewood in without doing the proper paperwork?
There's a footnote at the bottom of one of the documents saying that for instruments containing rosewood being shipped for personal use then no certificate is needed, which I though was interesting.
1979 Tokai TE-85
1980 Tokai LS-80
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Surely the builder should know all this? He's going to need to get the export documentation his end - you need that in hand before you apply for the import certificate.
The personal use thing is an interesting one, but I can't see it happening as the instrument will need to be insured for postage (unless you pick it up personally) and consequently it's full value will have to be declared.
USA Customs are supposed to be a f*cking nightmare. On another forum a guy who runs a guitar shop said they drilled out parts of guitars for scientific testing.
If you bring it back on the plane with you, whilst you won't need a licence as such, you will need documentation (with make, model, age + date of purchase) to show it contains rosewood (assuming it does) as a precaution to show it is exempt from CITES
Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA)
Telephone: 0117 372 3700 | Email: wildlife.licensing@apha.gsi.gov.uk
Website: www.gov.uk/apha | Twitter: @APHAgovuk | Facebook: aphagov
Address: UK CITES Management Authority, Centre for International Trade - Bristol
Horizon House, Deanery Road, Bristol, BS1 5AH
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nm6DO_7px1I
I can sell any guitar within the EU without a CITES certificate - so I'm not going to apply and pay for a CITES certificate to send a guitar outside the EU, when 99% of my sales are within the EU
Not sure if insurance would cover a failed customs clearance as it can be deemed as 'illegal' to be shipped and as such why would an insurance company pay out - Do drug barons insure their goods to be shipped to the EU and hope customs/police don't seize them - I don't know for sure but I would lean towards not likely
I don't mean customs smash it up because it is illegal. I mean smash it up whilst trying to determine if it is illegal. Somebody on TFB mentioned they can legally drill it looking for drugs or whatever.
As for us, all we are required to do is fill out the one page document & have it signed off by a representative from USDA"
Speak to APHA - info above - and ask if you need a EU import and a USA export CITES - and who applies for the EU version and how
I know Fender have to obtain a USA export and a EU import CITES - 2 separate docs - so don't see why that should be different for you - I've never had to do it so don't know the full criteria
I bought a used Duesenberg Outlaw for a bargain price from a dealer in Switzerland, they applied for the export certificate and sent it to me. Then I applied for the import certificate. Once received they were both sent back to Switzerland. Once the guitar was shipped bloody UK customs had if for two weeks even after sending proof of purchase. All for e rosewood fingerboard.
I'll never import again, too much hassle
(Just look at the post below yours about the hassles involved in buying a guitar from Switzerland - and in many ways Switzerland abides by EU law to make trade as easy as is possible.)
With CITES in the back of my mind, I decided to go for it and chance it. Spent 5 days in customs so I was fearing the worst, but no, a bill through today to pay customs and it was ready to be delivered from the local depot when paid. I went in today to get it and nothing asked about CITES or the like!
Happy experience, but probably wouldn't chance it again. After the 3rd day stuck in customs I wasn't very upbeat about getting it!