Skip to content
VIOLINBASE
Log in

Bow with pernambuco: ownership, travel, sale

Pernambuco (Paubrasilia echinata, also Fernambuk) is in CITES Appendix II. Since 2026 a new version of Annotation #10 applies: ownership and non-commercial travel stay free, trade requires proof.

Legal status

  • The species has been listed in CITES since 13 September 2007 (then under the name Caesalpinia echinata) and in the EU in Annex B of Regulation (EC) No 338/97.123
  • The 20th CITES Conference of the Parties changed Annotation #10. Under international law the new version has applied since 5 March 2026.14
  • The EU adopted it with Regulation (EU) 2026/1383 of 22 June 2026. It entered into force on the third day after publication in the Official Journal (26 June 2026), that is on 29 June 2026.3
  • All parts and products are covered, including finished bows. Exempt is the non-commercial carrying of finished instruments, finished accessories and finished parts, in practice mostly bows.1
Wording of Annotation #10 since 5 March 2026 (CITES)
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

How the annotation developed

SinceWhat was coveredEffect
13.09.2007 (EU: 11.04.2008)Logs, sawn wood, veneer sheets and unfinished wood articles used to make bowsRaw wood protected. Bows and instruments not yet1
23.02.2023 (EU: 20.05.2023)All parts, derivatives and finished products, except re-export of finished instruments, parts and accessoriesFinished bows protected too. In EU trade, record keeping and proof of legal acquisition apply1
05.03.2026 (EU: 29.06.2026)All parts and derivatives, except finished instruments, accessories and parts for non-commercial purposes; zero quota for wild-harvested specimens in tradeExemption for non-commercial carrying. The general exemption for re-export ends1

Owning and playing

Owning a bow for personal use requires no species-protection documents. This still holds as long as no commercial purposes are pursued.14

Registering bows with authorities is not provided for. It does not replace proof of legal acquisition either.4

Travelling with the bow

Non-commercial carrying of a finished bow is privileged if all three points hold:

  1. The purpose is a performance (paid or unpaid), personal use, display, loan, competition, teaching, appraisal or repair.1
  2. Ownership does not change.1
  3. The transport is not for sale, transfer or disposal outside the State where the owner usually lives.1

Then no species-protection documents are needed. The BfN recommends carrying proof of the non-commercial purpose (for example the invitation to perform) and a current declaration of materials with scientific names, CITES Appendix and annotation.1 Within the EU, no documents are needed either as long as no marketing act takes place. Other countries may have differing national rules.1

If the bow has other protected materials, such as ivory or tortoiseshell, those follow their own rules; more in the guide on the travel certificate.

Selling and buying

Within the EU

  • Every sale, commercial or private, requires proof of legal acquisition, which is handed to the buyer.14
  • Accepted proof is: an import permit of an EU Member State cleared by customs; proof of lawful acquisition within the EU; or proof of import into the EU before first listing on 13 September 2007, based on dated invoices, inventory lists, repair orders, certificates, expert opinions, dated declarations on the making, or other meaningful documents.1
  • For bows made after 20 May 2023, an invoice that only shows purchase within the EU is not enough. The proof of origin must show lawful import or the pre-Convention status of the wood used.1
  • The state authorities decide first whether proof is accepted, assessing evidence freely.1
  • Without proof, a sale is not possible. According to the BfN this has been so since 2023.1

Dealers and bow makers

  • Legal acquisition must be provable for raw wood, semi-finished products and finished products. The record-keeping duty under § 6 of the German Federal Species Protection Ordinance applies; antiques made before 1 June 1947 are exempt from it.1
  • The BfN recommends marking finished bows (for example with a brand stamp) and, for bow makers, issuing certificates with all relevant data.14

Across the EU border

  • Re-export: CITES re-export certificate from the BfN. It can only be issued if the state authority has confirmed lawful acquisition on a Vorlagebescheinigung.1
  • Import: proof of legal acquisition and an import permit from the BfN.4
  • For wild-harvested specimens (source code W), the annotation provides a zero quota in trade for commercial purposes.13
  • The earlier exemption for re-export of finished instruments ended with the new version.1

What is still to come

The Conference of the Parties adopted decisions on traceability. The CITES Standing Committee is to propose a harmonised approach for bows, sticks and wood by the next Conference.1 That may change the requirements again. Before a sale, check the current position with the BfN. The European Commission keeps an FAQ on this (in English) that, by its own account, is updated as implementation work progresses.5

Typical mistakes

  • Treating an EU invoice as enough although the bow was made after 20 May 2023.
  • Wanting to “register” the bow. This replaces no proof.
  • Selling or giving away the bow on tour. A change of ownership falls outside the exemption.
  • Confusing the age of the bow with the age of the wood. What counts is that the wood was lawfully imported or reached the EU before first listing.
  • Looking for proof only when selling. Invoices, expert opinions and certificates should be secured early.
  • Looking only at the stick. Frog and mounts may contain other protected materials.
  • Following old guides. The legal position changed in 2023 and 2026.

Checklist

As owner or musician

  • Invoice, expert opinion or certificate for the bow at hand
  • When travelling: invitation or other proof of non-commercial purpose with you
  • Current declaration of materials with scientific names with you
  • Ownership stays with the owner, the bow is not sold abroad
  • Other protected materials on the bow checked

As dealer or bow maker

  • Legal acquisition proven for every piece (raw wood, semi-finished, finished bow)
  • Records kept under § 6 BArtSchV
  • Proof goes to the buyer with every sale
  • For bows made after 20 May 2023: proof of origin shows lawful import or pre-Convention status
  • Finished bows marked, certificate with all data issued
  • For export: Vorlagebescheinigung from the state authority and re-export certificate from the BfN

With VIOLINBASE

What VIOLINBASE does here

For bows, VIOLINBASE asks for the materials of stick, frog, mounts, tip plate, grip and hair and prints them in the declaration of materials. If you insert the text template and pernambuco is entered, it contains an additional paragraph on it. Among other things it states that the wood was, to the best of your knowledge, harvested before 13 September 2007. Delete or change that if you cannot prove it.

Certificates, invoices and other proof can be stored with the instrument. The passport and the travel certificate are declarations by your company. They replace neither proof of legal acquisition nor a permit.

Check your trip with Viatico

Frequently asked questions

May I travel abroad with my pernambuco bow?

Yes, for non-commercial carrying to performances, competitions, teaching, appraisal or repair, if ownership does not change. According to the BfN no documents are needed for that. Proof of the non-commercial purpose and a declaration of materials are recommended. Other countries may have different rules.14

Do I have to register my bow?

No. Registration with authorities is not provided for and does not replace proof of legal acquisition.14

Can I sell a pernambuco bow?

Within the EU only with proof of legal acquisition, which the buyer receives. Across the EU border you additionally need a Vorlagebescheinigung from the state authority and a re-export certificate or import permit from the BfN.14

What is Annotation #10?

An addition to the CITES listing of Paubrasilia echinata that sets which parts and products of the species fall under control. The version since 5 March 2026 covers all parts and derivatives, except the non-commercial carrying of finished instruments, accessories and parts.1

What does zero quota mean?

For wild-harvested specimens (source code W) traded for commercial purposes, the export quota is zero.3

Do I need a musical instrument certificate for the bow?

Not if pernambuco is the only protected material and the bow is carried non-commercially. With other protected materials see the guide on the travel certificate.46

What if I have no proof?

Then, according to the BfN, a sale is not possible, because it can no longer be traced how and when the wood or instrument reached the EU. Registration does not help. Contact the competent state authority. Ownership for private use is not affected.1

Sources

Every statement above rests on these official sources. The raised numbers in the text point to them. Checked on 2 November 2026.

  1. BfN: Information for bow makers and musicians, Paubrasilia echinata (as at 4 August 2026, PDF, German) (opens in a new tab)Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, CITES enforcement authority
  2. Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein (opens in a new tab)Council of the European Union
  3. Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/1383 of 22 June 2026 (amending the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 338/97), Official Journal 26.6.2026 (opens in a new tab)European Commission
  4. BfN: Fernambuk - Paubrasilia echinata (German) (opens in a new tab)Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, Germany
  5. European Commission: Wildlife trade, practical advice (including the FAQ on pernambuco wood and bows) (opens in a new tab)European Commission, Directorate-General for Environment
  6. BfN: Import and export of musical instruments (German) (opens in a new tab)Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, Germany