Info needed for pipes with ivory

[Bluescelt]

Our Clan piper is an extremely talented young woman. She is a multi-instrumentalist who started to study bagpipes about 6 years ago. She has achieved grade one status this year and will be competing at the worlds this summer. She and her mom do volunteer work with Vets and she is there to pipe them in at the airport when they return from deployment or for memorial services. The old adage " good things happen to good people " definitely applies to her. Recently a family of a WWII Vet who met her was so impressed that they gifted her their late father's 1940s era Robertson pipes. I thought how perfect that a piper for Clan Donnachaidh should receive a set of vintage Robertson pipes. I heard her play them this past weekend at our Clan dinner and it was fantastic.

Talking with her later in the evening I found that they have a possible dilemma. The pipes almost certainly have ivory on the drones. I'm not positive but it does look like it. The family had no paperwork with the pipes so it may be impossible verify their age making it impossible to travel abroad with them without said papers. Does anyone know of a possible solution to this situation? I'm wondering if there was a process to acquire paperwork for them.

[PiperOfThePlains]

Jim McGillivray of Canada may be of some assistance to you -- http://www.piping.on.ca/

[StevieR]

Having worked with CITES in the past I can tell you she might need a musical instrument passport. Not sure how she'd acquire one in the States - maybe the FWS?

[Father Bill]

Steve, we may need some more help here, particularly for those of us who are merely interested observers. You're in the United Kingdom and BluesCelt is in the United States. Do you both really know what "CITES" and "FWS" are? This interested observer sure doesn't.

[Ordway]

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. Fish and Wildlife Service.

[artificer]

I have to deal with USF&W quite often, although not face to face, and not with something as protected as Ivory.

In my experience they tend to be efficient and helpful- but your piper will need to have their documents in order.
Here are two links with some more info and further linking that might be helpful getting her ducks in a row.
http://www.artsjournal.com/slippeddi...g-the-usa.html
http://www.artsjournal.com/slippeddi...o-the-usa.html

ith:

[Bluescelt]

Thanks all. I will pass on this info and hopefully she can sort out before the international competitions.

[StevieR]

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Those are they.

[tulloch]

I have to agree with EagleJCS. We live in a crazy age. Don't risk it. If there were a dispute in an airport the chance of permanent damage being done by an over-zealous inspector could be very regrettable.