Your trade readers should understand that in the event of a ‘no deal’ Brexit, not only will they be banned from taking rosewood, tortoiseshell or ivory objects through Dover or in their car through the Eurotunnel, but since the Eurostar terminal has not been listed as a CITES port the ban, as currently outlined, will also apply to Eurostar train services from London St Pancras.
This could impact not only musicians carrying ivory-tipped violin bows, but also dealers and taxidermists with small portable objects made from other CITES materials.
A ‘no deal’ Brexit also means that from 29 March onwards, permits will be needed for CITES antiques crossing what will then be the UK/EU border. The appropriate re-export permit from a country such as France and the import permit issued by the APHA will each need to be applied for and both permits received before the goods can be shipped.
Sadly, a dealer making an impulse purchase of a small boulle jewellery box in a Paris antiques market and bringing it home on Eurostar afterwards will be a thing of the past.
Mark Dodgson
Secretary general
BADA
