Hello,
I am reaching out to advise you of important new permit requirements that may affect you if you are buying or selling products made of Pernambuco wood, also known as Brazil wood (Paubrasilia echinata) involving the movement of those products across international borders. Pernambuco wood is often used to make parts and accessories for musical string instruments, including high-quality bows.
The new permit requirements came into effect on March 5, 2026.
Pernambuco wood comes from an endangered species of tree. The new rules, put in place under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), will help monitor and control the trade of this wood to help reduce the risk of the species becoming extinct.
Key Changes
1. CITES Permits Now Required for All International Commercial Trade
- A CITES permit is required for all international commercial activity involving Pernambuco wood. This includes buying, selling, or exchanging items whether they are finished or unfinished.
- The previous exemption for re‑exporting finished musical instruments, accessories, and parts for commercial purposes no longer applies.
2. Prohibition on Commercial Trade in Wood Harvested After 2007
International commercial trade is now prohibited for Pernambuco wood which was taken from the wild (CITES source code W) on or after September 13, 2007. This is the date the species was first listed under CITES.
International trade is only allowed, via a permit, if:
- the wood was harvested before September 13, 2007 (this is called pre-convention), and
- the person applying for the permit can prove it
If you cannot prove the wood is pre-convention:
- a CITES permit cannot be issued
- the item cannot be traded internationally
- the item may only be traded within Canada
3. Non-Commercial Travel and Use: No Permit Needed
You do NOT need a CITES permit for the international travel or shipment of finished musical instruments, accessories and parts containing Pernambuco wood if:
- the movement is for one of the following non-commercial reasons:
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- a performance (paid or unpaid)
- personal use
- display
- loan
- competition
- teaching
- appraisal
- repair
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- AND when the item is outside of the owner’s usual country of residence:
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- ownership of the item does not change
- the item is not sold, transferred or disposed of
-
This permit exemption allows musicians, organizations, and individuals to travel or ship items made of Pernambuco (such as bows) outside of the country without a permit, as long as the conditions above are met.
CITES Permits
- Importing into Canada: You must have a CITES export permit from the CITES authority of the country that the item is coming from.
- Re-exporting from Canada: You must have a CITES re-export certificate issued by the Canadian CITES authority.
You must have the required CITES permits before you import or export items. These permits must be checked (validated) by a border services officer at both the place of exit (for items leaving the country) and the place of entry (for items entering the country). Permits cannot be issued after the fact. If you do not have the correct permit, border officers can seize the item, and you will not be able to get a permit afterward to get the item back
For more information on Canadian CITES permits, including where and how to apply, please visit Permits for trade in protected species - Canada.ca.
Contact Us:
If you have any general questions about CITES or the new requirements, you may reach out to us at:
If you have specific questions about permits under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), or would like assistance in completing CITES permit application forms, you may also contact the Canadian CITESmanagement authority:
- by email at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or - by phone at 1-855-869-8670
Yours sincerely,
Caroline Ladanowski,
Director, Wildlife Management and Regulatory Affairs Division, Canadian Wildlife Service
Environment and Climate Change Canada | Government of Canada
351 St. Joseph Blvd., 13th Floor, Gatineau, QC K1A OH3