Two new species of timber now require CITES permits to be imported into the UK, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has announced.
Following the 19th Conference of Parties (CoP19) held in Panama in November 2022, from 25th November Ipe and Cumaru products are now included in CITES Appendix II / GB Annex B and controlled under CITES:
1. Trumpet trees, Ipe (Lapacho):
- All species in the genus Handroanthus spp., Roseodendron spp. and Tabebuia spp.
- Only logs, sawn wood, veneer sheets, plywood and transformed wood will be CITES controlled (Annotation #17).
2. Cumaru (Tonka, Shihuahuaco, Almendro):
- All species in the genus Dipteryx spp.
- Only logs, sawn wood, veneer sheets, plywood and transformed wood will be CITES controlled (Annotation #17).
Transformed wood is defined as per the Harmonized System code 44.09, including wood (strips, friezes for parquet flooring, not assembled), continuously shaped (tongued, grooved, rebated, chamfered, V-jointed, beaded, moulded, rounded or the like), along any of its edges, ends or faces, whether or not planed, sanded or end-jointed.
Before moving these specimens, traders must now ensure that the CITES documents are available at the time of entry into the UK:
- a (re-)export permit issued by the country of re-export, AND
- a UK import permit issued by APHA
CITES specimens shipped before 25th November 2024 but arriving to the UK after this date would not require CITES documents if traders can provide a valid signed and dated bill of lading showing that the shipment left the country of (re-)export before 25th November 2024.
Movements of CITES specimens into or out of the UK must take place at a designated CITES port.
Click here to check if your import, export or re-export needs a permit or certificate under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
