Shipping Compliance
Updated May 14, 2026
Wildlife Species
The import and export of musical instruments containing materials from some endangered, protected or wildlife species are restricted by different government entities, but handled by Tarisio:
For our New York sales, this concerns mother-of-pearl, lizard skin and pernambco:
Item sells in New York and then stays in the USA: all clear!
Item sells in New York and then goes outside the USA:
- If it contains Mother of Pearl, a USFW declaration is needed (fees apply – $125 per item)
- If it contains lizard skin: these materials will be removed and can be replaced at the bidder’s expense.
- If it is a bow in pernambuco, it will require a US CITES re-export permit ($200 per item), a second USFW declaration, and a CITES import permit from the destination country. The re-export permit and USFW permits will be added to your invoice and may take up to 90 days to be approved. Please note that contemporary bows made after 2007 can be exported only if the maker is able to demonstrate that the wood used to make that bow was obtained from trees harvested prior to 2007.
For our London sales, this concerns the protected Rosewood species, Dalbergia Nigra, lizard skin, tortoiseshell, ivory, whalebone and pernambuco:
Item sells in London and stays in the UK: all clear!
Item sells in London and is exported outside the UK: these materials will be removed and can be replaced at bidder’s expense if appropriate, or a CITES re-export permit can be applied for on the bidder’s behalf (£75 + VAT)
- Please note that contemporary bows made after 2007 can be exported only if the maker is able to demonstrate that the wood used to make that bow was obtained from trees harvested prior to 2007.
For our Berlin sales, this concerns the protected Rosewood species, Dalbergia Nigra, lizard skin, tortoiseshell, ivory, whalebone and pernambuco:
Item sells in Berlin and stays in the EU: all clear!
Item sells in Berlin and is exported outside the EU: these materials will be removed and can be replaced at bidder’s expense if appropriate, or a CITES re-export permit (€105 + VAT) and Vorlagebescheinigung (fees vary, determined by value) can be applied for on bidder’s behalf
- Please note that contemporary bows made after 2007 can be exported only if the maker is able to demonstrate that the wood used to make that bow was obtained from trees harvested prior to 2007.
Cultural Goods
Tarisio London and Tarisio Berlin will assist buyers who wish to export cultural goods out of the UK/Germany or out of the EU by applying for an export license (fees apply). The age and value of the instrument, as well as whether the export is permanent, will determine whether an export license is required.
- We may require written permission to act as your agent in any application
- We handle all export paperwork but do not handle import paperwork. We advise checking with your country’s customs authority to see if import permits are also required.
- The USA does not permit the commercial import of any items containing tortoiseshell or ivory.
- As of December 14, 2019, the CITES organization has created an exception in their regulations for Rosewood. There are now only restrictions on the import and export of musical instruments containing the Dalbergia Nigra species.
Note to Consignors – Wildlife Species
- Berlin: Strictly protected species (Annex A of EC Regulation 338/97) can only be offered for sale and sold with a valid EC marketing authorization. Species listed in Annex B can only be sold if all necessary legal documentation is available.
- Tarisio can sell items containing tortoiseshell, ivory, lizard skin, whalebone, or Dalbergia nigra if thorough provenance is provided and the item predates the relevant CITES listing date for that specific material:Ivory (African & Asian elephant): made prior to June 1, 1947
Tortoiseshell (hawksbill turtle): made prior to July 1, 1975
Whalebone: made prior to July 1, 1975
Dalbergia nigra (Brazilian rosewood): made prior to June 11, 1992
Lizard skin: cutoff date varies by species — identification of the exact species is required
Please email info.newyork@tarisio.com, info.london@tarisio.com,or info.berlin@tarisio.com for more information.