What CITES Appendix II means for agarwood
CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, sorts listed species into appendices. Species in Appendix II are not considered to be facing extinction at present, but their trade is controlled so that it stays compatible with their survival. The whole genus Aquilaria, the trees that produce agarwood resin, is listed in Appendix II. That listing applies to wild and cultivated material alike, so plantation origin does not remove the need for paperwork; it can make the paperwork easier to document.
In practice, Appendix II means that exporting a listed product requires a permit from the exporting country, issued by its CITES Management Authority, and that the permit is checked at the border. Import-side rules then vary. Some countries require their own import permit or a pre-notification, others accept the export permit alone, and some apply stricter domestic measures. This variation is the reason a buyer should check the destination rules before the order is placed, not after the goods are packed.
Which products carry the requirement
Agarwood trade covers many forms, and not all are treated identically. Chips, powder, oil and finished products can be described differently on a permit, and some finished goods fall under exemptions in certain jurisdictions. Because exemptions differ and change, the desk does not assume one; it handles an agarwood-bearing lot as a documented one unless the exporter and the importing authority have both confirmed otherwise.
| Form | Typical handling | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Raw wood, chips, powder | Export permit per shipment | Species, quantity, origin code, importer rules |
| Agarwood oil | Export permit per shipment | Container volume, source material |
| Incense beads containing agarwood powder | Documentation per lot; scope depends on destination | Whether the destination accepts the permit as issued |
| Beads with sandalwood only | No CITES listing for Santalum album | Origin documents for the wood instead |
For sandalwood the question is different; see sandalwood legality and sourcing.
The document trail, step by step
- Source record. The grower or processor records where the agarwood was harvested or grown, the species and the quantity. For plantation material, this is usually a plantation or cooperative record.
- Workshop record. The partner workshop logs the quantity of powder received and the quantity used for each lot, so the weight in the finished beads can be reconciled with the source.
- Export permit. The exporter applies to the national Management Authority. The permit names the species, the quantity, the exporter and the importer, and it is valid for a limited period.
- Commercial documents. The invoice and packing list must describe the goods consistently with the permit. Mismatched descriptions are a common reason for delays.
- Import-side checks. The importer presents the permit and any additional documents the destination requires. Customs may inspect the goods against the permit.
The permit is issued per lot or shipment, not once for a supplier, so each order triggers its own application. Allow time for it in the lead time; typical reference timelines are on MOQ and lead time, and permit processing is confirmed in writing per program.
Who is responsible for what
A sourcing desk coordinates the work but does not replace the legal exporter or the importer. Responsibilities are normally split as follows, and the split should be written into the order.
- Workshop or exporter of record. Holds or applies for the export permit and provides the species and origin declaration.
- The desk. Collects the document set, checks that descriptions match across permit, invoice and packing list, and tracks the permit validity against the shipping date.
- Importer. Confirms the destination's import rules, applies for any import permit and handles customs entry, usually through a broker.
If the buyer is an online seller shipping to consumers in many countries, the burden multiplies, because each destination may regulate agarwood differently. Many sellers restrict agarwood lines to a short list of markets for this reason.
Cultivated and wild origin
The permit records a source code that distinguishes wild-collected from artificially propagated material. Buyers often ask for plantation material because it is easier to document and fits current expectations on sourcing. Agarwood from the Dianbai area of Guangdong and from Hainan is largely plantation material, while some lots are imported from Vietnam; the origin is stated per lot. Dianbai received its first agarwood raw-material export license in September 2024, a sign that the domestic export route is formalizing. The wild versus cultivated discussion is covered in cultivated vs wild agarwood.
Common reasons shipments are delayed
Most holds are administrative rather than substantive. The permit expired between issue and arrival, the quantity on the permit differs from the packed weight, the product description on the invoice reads as bracelets while the permit reads as agarwood powder, or the importer did not know an import permit was needed. Each of these is avoidable with a pre-shipment check in which the desk compares the permit, invoice, packing list and labels line by line and sends the set to the buyer or broker for a final look. Where an importing authority wants advance notice, that notice should go out while the beads are still drying, not when they reach the port. Express couriers are often stricter than freight forwarders, so small parcels of agarwood goods may need to move as a documented freight shipment instead.
What to ask a workshop before ordering
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Which species and origin is used in this lot? | The permit must name the species and source |
| Can you supply the permit before shipment? | Goods without a matching permit may be held |
| How is powder weight reconciled with the permit? | Quantity mismatches cause customs queries |
| What does the ingredient declaration say? | It must match the permit and invoice |
| Who files for permits and how long does it take? | Sets the lead time and the responsible party |
Practical advice for buyers
Plan documentation as a line item in the order, not an afterthought. Ask your customs broker what your destination requires for products containing Aquilaria, share that answer with the desk, and have it written into the order confirmation. If the destination rules are unclear, begin with a small pilot lot so the process is tested on a modest quantity. For the wider list of documents available on the lines, see compliance and certifications, and for shipping options see logistics and shipping. HS references are discussed in HS codes for incense. When you are ready, send your agarwood line, quantity and destination through the quote form; the desk will list the documents needed for that market and confirm them in writing.