| Official Luthiers Forum! http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/ |
|
| Natural materials: CITES/Lacey Act/Fish & Wildlife regs http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=31829 |
Page 1 of 1 |
| Author: | Chuck Erikson [ Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:01 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Natural materials: CITES/Lacey Act/Fish & Wildlife regs |
Washington, DC, luthier David Berkowitz and myself (Duke of Pearl) have at the last minute been put in charge of doing a 3 hour morning workshop on CITES/Lacey Act/U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service/APHIS/Customs issues regarding natural materials used in stringed instruments, on June 11th at the Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans (ASIA) Symposium in East Stroudsburg, PA. (see: http://www.guitarmaker.org; contact: nadine@custompearlinlay.com). New and confusing regulations affect every instrument builder, materials vendor, dealer, player, and collector, and are being aggressively enforced. Even unknowing violations or first offenses can result in confiscation, heavy fines, bankruptcy, and jail time (I was investigated for 8 months last year by F&W)! We now have confirmation from an APHIS rep willing to do a presentation, and it looks like we’ll possibly also have anywhere from 1-3 F&W specialists giving presentations. Along with overviews regarding the luthiery industry in general, they’re also being supplied with specific questions we need answers to, and there’ll be at least 45 minutes for Q&A with the audience (and hopefully time afterwards for informal discussions). It’s too late for ASIA to include publicity on this as the last pre-convention issue of Guitarmaker has already been mailed out, although they will be mentioning it on their website. We're trying to get the word out as much as possible on the internet, such as Facebook and any luthier forums. Please spread the word on it! It’ll be a rare chance to be face-to-face with high ranking government authorities for direct answers on everything, and we’re certainly anticipating some serious attendance for it! |
|
| Author: | meddlingfool [ Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:28 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Natural materials: CITES/Lacey Act/Fish & Wildlife regs |
Please do your best to get vid or transcripts for those of us who can't go. That would be awesome and helpful Thanks |
|
| Author: | Howard Klepper [ Tue Apr 12, 2011 10:15 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Natural materials: CITES/Lacey Act/Fish & Wildlife regs |
I thought APHIS had nothing to do with stuff that isn't alive. |
|
| Author: | Chuck Erikson [ Wed Apr 13, 2011 1:58 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Natural materials: CITES/Lacey Act/Fish & Wildlife regs |
APHIS gets involved because even dead or processed plant materials may still harbor various pests. Depending on whether a shipment contains logs, lumber, plywood, veneer, or finished articles (like guitars) any of several of their permits and "phytosanitary" certificates may or may not be required. Occasionally port of entry APHIS inspectors may insist on massive paperwork (such as full "chain of custody" documentation) even when not at all required by the regs, and merely quoting the law to them gets you absolutely nowhere since they don't care what it says. To get clearance, you can either comply with their overzealous (and sometimes impossible) demands or take a hike. |
|
| Author: | Mark Groza [ Fri Apr 15, 2011 7:00 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Natural materials: CITES/Lacey Act/Fish & Wildlife regs |
Sounds like NAZI, Germany all over again. PAPERS? |
|
| Author: | Laurent Brondel [ Fri Apr 15, 2011 7:35 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Natural materials: CITES/Lacey Act/Fish & Wildlife regs |
Too short a thread for Godwin's law. |
|
| Author: | Chuck Erikson [ Sat Apr 16, 2011 1:31 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Natural materials: CITES/Lacey Act/Fish & Wildlife regs |
As of today, the government representatives who'll be participating in the ASIA Workshop are: George Balady, APHIS Agriculturist (Staff Officer) in USDA's Riverdale, MD, office, a specialist charged with APHIS' role in the Lacey Act. Craig Hoover, Chief, Branch of Operations, USFWS Division of Management Authority, in Arlington, VA. He's a Chief Biologist and will be accompanied by someone from their Branch of Permits, and possibly also with a third F&W agent from their Office of Law Enforcement. Although David and I know a fair amount about the regs, with this much professional heat in the room we plan to just shut up and listen along with everyone else. We're very pleased that these busy guys are willing to travel and work on a weekend to help us out, and are welcoming them to hang for the day and be available to mix with attendees and continue informal discussions (for which there may be a room available after the lunch break, if needed). |
|
| Page 1 of 1 | All times are UTC - 5 hours |
| Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group http://www.phpbb.com/ |
|