Importing musical instruments in no-deal Brexit made easier

Anyone wishing to bring a specimen of a protected species of animal or plant – including, for example, ivory in musical instruments – into the UK or export to the EU will require a CITES document in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Such documents must be applied for in advance of travel and endorsed by Border Force at a CITES-designated point of entry or exit.

Deborah Annetts, chief executive of the Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM), comments: ‘We welcome this news from the government as musicians routinely use these ports to travel to the EU27/EEA with their instruments, many of which contain CITES materials. By opening up these four ports in the event of a no-deal Brexit it will enable musicians to travel more easily with their instruments to and from the EU27/EEA.

‘This is a success for ISM and our Save Music campaign. This development is a key recommendation within our report Impact of Brexit on Musicians, published in May this year. The ISM has been engaged in many regular talks with DEFRA and as such thank DEFRA for their attentive work on this issue.’

www.ism.org