To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.

Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Musical Instruments: Transport
Tuesday 5th November 2019

Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she has taken to secure a transitional period with the EU on the application of CITES to allow musicians and others to continue to travel with their instruments which may contain materials covered by CITES regulation.

Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

If we leave the EU without a deal, all Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) items that are currently freely traded between the UK and the EU, including musical instruments, will require CITES permits or an import notification. This would mean movement of CITES specimens between the UK and the EU would need to follow the same processes as those currently in place for movement between the UK and the rest of the world. We are working hard to make sure we maintain continuity and minimise disruption for those who trade and move CITES listed species, and have been working closely with the music industry on this issue.

In addition to import/export permits, there are other options which may be more appropriate for musicians looking to move musical instruments. Travelling Exhibition Certificates can be issued to cover instruments that are owned by orchestras (rather than individuals). We have also been increasing awareness of CITES Musical Instrument Certificates. These can be used for non-commercial purposes, including performing, to allow musicians to travel with their own instruments across the UK border in place of CITES import/export permits. These are valid for multiple movements for three years and can be used by individual musicians travelling alone or with an ensemble. They also allow travel outside the EU. In September, we announced the addition of Dover, Eurotunnel, and Holyhead to the list of ports to be designated for CITES movement after exit.

At the recent CITES Conference of the Parties, a decision was made to change annotation number 15 which relates to rosewood species, such as Dalbergia. This will exempt musical instruments made of this wood (including finished musical instrument parts and accessories) and small finished items up to 10kg. This exemption allows a person to travel to any country in the world with a musical instrument or finished product containing less than 10kg of a rosewood or a Bubinga without a CITES permit. The EU Commission are preparing legislation to implement this amendment to the CITES Appendices by amending the Annexes of the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 31 Oct 2019
Oral Answers to Questions

"The Speaker’s Advisory Committee on Works of Art publishes an annual report, which is considered by the House’s Finance Committee. The Commission does not receive routine updates. The annual report for 2018-19 was published on the Committee’s website yesterday...."
Tom Brake - View Speech

View all Tom Brake (LD - Carshalton and Wallington) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 31 Oct 2019
Oral Answers to Questions

"I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question, although I am disappointed he did not manage to work electronic voting into it. He will be pleased to know that the Committee is conscious that Winnie Ewing is currently a notable absence from the parliamentary art collection. It is investigating the …..."
Tom Brake - View Speech

View all Tom Brake (LD - Carshalton and Wallington) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 31 Oct 2019
Oral Answers to Questions

"I believe that was probably a bid for a portrait of you to be provided in the House, Mr Speaker, so we look forward to that...."
Tom Brake - View Speech

View all Tom Brake (LD - Carshalton and Wallington) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 31 Oct 2019
Oral Answers to Questions

"Good progress is being made on implementing the independent complaints and grievance scheme, and on the recommendations by Dame Laura Cox and Gemma White, QC, to improve the working culture of the House. Complainants with non-recent cases, and former members of the parliamentary community who were not previously covered by …..."
Tom Brake - View Speech

View all Tom Brake (LD - Carshalton and Wallington) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 31 Oct 2019
Oral Answers to Questions

"I agree that there should be a completely independent process, and I regret that 12 months on that has not been resolved. A group is making good progress on that, and it expects to report back to the Commission later this year. I hope that by the end of this …..."
Tom Brake - View Speech

View all Tom Brake (LD - Carshalton and Wallington) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 31 Oct 2019
Oral Answers to Questions

"I thank the hon. Gentleman for that question. If he is referring to particular cases, he can pass the details on to me. I am aware that support has been made available to Members of Parliament against whom legal cases have been pursued. I will follow that up if he …..."
Tom Brake - View Speech

View all Tom Brake (LD - Carshalton and Wallington) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 31 Oct 2019
Oral Answers to Questions

"As I hope that Members are aware, the House of Commons and the Parliamentary Digital Service have made significant progress in digitising various parliamentary processes, such as through the Members’ hub for tabling questions digitally. Members might not be aware that “Erskine May” was made publicly available online for the …..."
Tom Brake - View Speech

View all Tom Brake (LD - Carshalton and Wallington) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 31 Oct 2019
Oral Answers to Questions

"I can reassure the hon. Lady and other Members that if they have issues about the way the Members’ hub works, for instance, they can simply walk the short distance from here to the Table Office. I understand that the Table Office, on a monthly basis, reviews suggestions and possible …..."
Tom Brake - View Speech

View all Tom Brake (LD - Carshalton and Wallington) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 31 Oct 2019
Oral Answers to Questions

"I can reassure the hon. Gentleman that that has happened and that there are further changes in the pipeline, for instance in relation to Committees, legislation and Members’ web pages. The changes he seeks to introduce to make this place a paperless environment are in the pipeline and, I hope, …..."
Tom Brake - View Speech

View all Tom Brake (LD - Carshalton and Wallington) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions