Ivory Regs Impact Concert Biz

Under the new rules, vintage guitars that may include small amounts of ivory from African elephants can’t be shipped without a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Tennessean reported.

And to secure a permit the owner must prove the ivory .

“We certainly care about the issue this ban is meant to address — the senseless slaughter of African elephants for the harvesting of ivory,” Valantine said. “But we would hope the federal government would modify the language of the ban by working with the music community to develop new language that would support the goals of protecting endangered species while simultaneously protecting international cultural activity.”

U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper of Nashville has suggested one potential solution to the issue, the paper noted.

“What’s fair? Most Nashville musicians own instruments with now or soon-to-be-forbidden parts. Some own many. Do these become contraband?” he said. “The best solution is to allow these antiques to be used, not destroyed or devalued, and to prevent new instruments from harming the environment. That way we protect what people have purchased innocently, and protect today’s endangered species.”