CITES, LACEY ACT, ESA, USFWS AND CUSTOMS REGULATION OF WOOD, SHELL, BONE, IVORY, FOSSIL IVORY, AND FINISHED ITEMS (SUCH AS GUITARS) WHICH CONTAIN ANY OF THESE OR OTHER WILDLIFE OR
PLANT PRODUCTS

By Chuck Erikson, the Duke of Pearl, April, 2011

WITH SPECIAL THANKS FOR INPUT OR REVIEW BY:

Kathy Wingert, Wingert Guitars
Natalie Swango, Luthiers Mercantile International
Lance R. Peck, Forgotten Woods, LLC
Craig Hoover, FWS Branch of Operations Chief (Arlington, VA)
George Gruhn, Gruhn Guitars, Inc.
Marilee Brown, FWS Special Agent (Sacramento, CA)
David Berkowitz, Berkowitz Guitars
George A. Balady, APHIS Staff Agriculturist Officer (Riverdale, MD)

NOTE: In using this guide, each Section is designed to deal specifically with importing or exporting, and with plant or wildlife materials. For instance, if you’ll be importing only plant materials (woods), read the Sections which mention “Imports”, “All imports”, or “Imports of plant materials and products”.

DISCLAIMER
Some of this information may not be accurate or current, is presented only as a general guide for educational or entertainment purposes, and is not intended to be legal advice. You are responsible for consulting with your own brokers or attorneys, and for researching the various state, federal and international laws which may apply and which are of course subject to incessant and not always rational or understandable changes.

COPYRIGHT 2011, THE GUILD OF AMERICAN LUTHIERS ISSN 1041-7176

CONTENTS

SECTION 1
INTRODUCTION, GENERAL NOTES, AND TERM DEFINITIONS

SECTION 2
EXEMPTIONS FOR PERSONAL PROPERTY; PRE-BAN,
PRE-CONVENTION, AND “LEGACY” MATERIALS; AND ANTIQUE ITEMS

SECTION 3
(For imports or exports of animal products)
U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE IMPORT/EXPORT PERMITS OR LICENSES

SECTION 4
(For imports or exports of animal materials or products)
FILLING OUT THE U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE DECLARATION FORM 3-177

SECTION 5
(For exports of plant materials or products)
USDA/APHIS DECLARATION FORMS

SECTION 6
(For imports of plant materials or products)
USDA/APHIS DECLARATION FORMS FOR COMPLYING WITH
CITES AND THE LACEY ACT

SECTION 7
(For all imports)
FILLING OUT THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY/U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION ENTRY/IMMEDIATE DELIVERY FORM 3461:

SECTION 8
(For 3-177 imports & exports, 3461 imports, PPQ-505 imports, and others)
OBTAINING THE 3-DIGIT “ENTRY FILER CODE” NEEDED IN COMPUTING
THE NUMBER FOR FORM 3177-BOX 6, FORM 3461-BOX 4, and PPQ-505-BOX 2

SECTION 9
(For all exports)
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU REGULATIONS AND
POSTAL CUSTOMS DECLARATION FORM 2976-A

SECTION 10
(For imports and exports)
“HTS” (HARMONIZED TARIFF SCHEDULE) AND “SCHEDULE B”
ITEM CODE CLASSIFICATIONS

SECTION 11
(For all exports)
FILLING OUT U.S. CUSTOMS/NAFTA “CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN” FORMS

SECTION 12
WHERE TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT REGULATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF CITES-RELATED ISSUES AND PROCEDURES

SECTION 13
HOW TO DETERMINE WHICH CITES WILDLIFE AND PLANT
DOCUMENTS ARE NEEDED

SECTION 14
SOME USEFUL INTRODUCTORY WEBSITES