U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Proposes Revisions to the
  Rules Governing Trade in African Elephant Ivory

On July 29, 2015 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published
proposed revisions to the rules governing trade in African elephant
ivory.  Comments on the proposed revisions are being accepted through
September 28, 2015.  The proposed revisions affect the import, export,
foreign commerce, and interstate commerce of elephant ivory.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is well aware that restrictions
on trade in elephant ivory affect the musical instruments community
and have utilized input from the musical instruments community in
formulating the proposed revisions.  Assessing all the ways trade
in elephant ivory affects the poaching of the species is complex and
the proposed revisions have been formulated with that in mind.  The
proposed revisions allow for the foreign commerce and interstate
commerce of certain manufactured items that contain a small (de
minimis) amount of ivory.

The following links lead to two documents on the proposed revisions:

http://www.fws.gov/international/pdf/african-elephant-4d-proposed-changes.pdf 

http://www.regulations.gov/contentStreamer?documentId=FWS-HQ-IA-2013-0091-0001&disposition=attachment&contentType=pdf 

The second document indicates that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
is seeking comment from the public on the specific criteria they have
proposed to qualify for the de minimis exception.

Joe Orens

 [ Note: I've halted MMD discussion about ivory regulations until
 [ something concrete happens and is reported by Piano Technicians
 [ Guild (PTG).  The notice above of proposed revisions indicates
 [ something _might_ happen next year.  -- Robbie