CITES Wood Listings for Epoxy Tables: Regulations & Checklist

Understanding CITES Listings for Exotic Wood Slabs

When selecting timber slabs for custom epoxy river tables and wood/epoxy tabletops, builders and buyers frequently encounter imported exotic species. The international trade of certain wild timber species is regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), also recognized as the Washington Convention. This guide provides a factual overview of how these listings function, which species are listed based on technical reference data, and what paperwork buyers should request from lumber suppliers. This article is strictly informational and does not constitute legal advice.

How CITES Appendices and Annotations Apply to Lumber

CITES classifies regulated species into Appendices to manage cross-border trade. Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction, such as Dalbergia nigra (Brazilian rosewood). Appendix II covers species that are not necessarily threatened with immediate extinction but require regulated trade to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival.

For timber, Appendix II listings often come with specific annotations defining exactly which physical product forms are controlled. An annotation may restrict whole logs, sawn wood, veneer sheets, plywood, engineered wood, or transformed wood. In some listings, specific parts or finished goods below defined weight thresholds—such as finished products up to a maximum of 10 kg of wood of the listed species per shipment—are exempted. If an imported slab or timber component falls under a controlled genus or species and matches the specified product form, valid CITES documentation from the seller is required for compliant cross-border movement.

Regulated Timber Species in Custom Table Building

According to the CIRAD Tropix technical sheets and the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN): List of tree species protected under CITES and Regulation (EC) 338/97, status 05.03.2026, several exotic woods used in high-end furniture are regulated under Appendix II:

• African Padauk: The species of the genus Pterocarpus are listed in Appendix II of CITES (Washington Convention 2025). Only African populations are concerned. Regulated product forms include logs, sawn wood, veneer, plywood, and engineered wood.
• Afzelia: The species of the genus Afzelia are listed in Appendix II of CITES (Washington Convention 2025). Only African populations are concerned, covering logs, sawn wood, veneer, plywood, and engineered wood.
• Cumaru / Tonka: The species in the genus Dipteryx are listed in Appendix II of CITES (Washington Convention 2025). The regulated products are logs, sawn wood, veneer, plywood, and engineered wood.
• Grenadillo / Grenadille d’Afrique: Listed in CITES Appendix II with annotation #15 (covering all Dalbergia species since 02.01.2017, except Dalbergia nigra, which is in Appendix I), per the BfN CITES tree list, status 05.03.2026. Annotation #15 covers all parts and derivatives except leaves, flowers, pollen, fruit, seeds, finished musical instruments, parts, accessories, and finished products up to a maximum of 10 kg of wood of the listed species per shipment.
• Rosewood Para, Sonokeling Rosewood, and Tamalan Rosewood: These Dalbergia species share the Appendix II listing with annotation #15 per the BfN list (status 05.03.2026).
• Senegal Mahogany: Listed in CITES Appendix II with annotation #17 (African populations of Khaya species, including Khaya senegalensis, since 23.02.2023), per the BfN CITES tree list, status 05.03.2026. Annotation #17 covers logs, sawn wood, veneer sheets, plywood, and transformed wood.

Data compiled by BigEpoxy from individual CIRAD Tropix 7 technical sheets (average values for mature wood).

Common Table Woods Not Listed Under CITES

Many traditional domestic and imported species commonly paired with casting resins are not listed under the referenced CITES datasets. For example, woods such as European Oak, European Walnut, European Ash, European Beech, Iroko, Merbau, Zebrano, Wenge, Guanacaste, Idigbo, Itauba, Mengkulang, Mora, and Makoré are designated as not listed according to CIRAD Tropix technical records and BfN status data.

Buyer Checklist for Listed Timber and Epoxy Builds

If you are commissioning an epoxy river table or purchasing imported exotic lumber, use the following checklist to ensure regulatory diligence and proper fabrication:

1. Identify the Botanical Name: Verify the exact botanical genus and species from the lumber distributor or table builder rather than relying solely on common commercial names.
2. Request CITES Documentation: For species listed in Appendix II (such as African populations of Pterocarpus, Afzelia, or Khaya, as well as Dipteryx or Dalbergia), ask the seller for documentation showing legal acquisition and valid import/export permits.
3. Examine the Product Form: Check whether the raw timber falls under covered categories such as logs, sawn wood, or transformed wood, or if exemptions (such as the 10 kg finished product limit under annotation #15) apply.
4. Follow Epoxy Preparation Protocols: Regardless of timber origin, ensure exotic slabs are properly prepared and sealed according to the resin maker's technical data sheet before casting river voids.

Sources

• German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN): List of tree species protected under CITES and Regulation (EC) 338/97, status 05.03.2026
• CIRAD Tropix 7 technical sheets (index)

Published October 30, 2026. Sources are linked in the text.

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