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About Instrument Passport

CITES and the Lacey Act: A Brief History

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was established in 1975 to regulate and monitor the international trade of endangered plants and animals. It currently protects over 38,000 species by requiring permits and documentation for the movement of listed species and their derivatives.

The Lacey Act, passed in the United States in 1900 and expanded in 2008, is a foundational law that prohibits the trade of illegally sourced plants and wildlife. It requires importers to declare the species and origin of plant products, including wood used in musical instruments.

Musical Instruments and At-Risk Materials

Violins, violas, cellos, bows, and guitars often incorporate materials from protected species such as Pernambuco, ebony, ivory, rosewood, and tortoiseshell. These materials contribute to the tonal and aesthetic qualities of instruments but pose significant compliance challenges for makers, sellers, and musicians.

Transporting or selling instruments containing these materials may require CITES permits or declarations under the Lacey Act, especially for cross-border movements or sales. Failure to comply can lead to instrument confiscation or legal penalties.

Instrument Passport: Helping Ensure Compliance

Instrument Passport is a role-based tracking system designed for the violin family and similar instruments. It allows users to document provenance, material details, and compliance history for instruments and parts. This supports musicians, luthiers, shops, suppliers, and enforcement personnel in meeting CITES and Lacey Act requirements.

  • Luthiers can tag and track compliant materials from harvest through construction.
  • Musicians can generate printable compliance documents for travel and customs.
  • Shops can manage inventory with role-specific visibility for pricing and materials.
  • Suppliers can document harvesting locations, species, and transport history.
  • Enforcement officers can quickly verify compliance data using NFC scanning.

By digitizing compliance and provenance workflows, Instrument Passport makes it easier to protect endangered species while preserving access to the materials that define our musical heritage.