The History of Oud Trade Regulation: Protecting the Tree, Assuring Authenticity
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When demand for oud peaked and its wild trees declined, the international community stepped in to regulate the trade and protect the tree from extinction. Oud came to have its own laws and permits that guarantee its source. In this article we close our guide by tracing the history of oud trade regulation: why it was regulated, how international agreements protect it, and what that means for the buyer today.
Why was the oud trade regulated?
The regulation of the oud trade rested on three complementary tools:
| The regulatory tool | Its role |
|---|---|
| The CITES convention | International protection for threatened oud trees |
| Export permits | Certificates proving oud's source and its legality |
| Curbing illegal logging | Limiting the unlawful gathering of wild trees |
CITES and the protection of oud
Oud trees were placed in Appendix II of the CITES convention in 2004 — the international agreement that regulates trade in threatened species. Under it, exporting oud came to require official permits proving it was gathered in a lawful and sustainable way. This regulation is a complement to the shift toward cultivation we discussed in from wild oud to modern farms: farming provides the alternative, and regulation protects the original.
Oud tree species were placed in Appendix II of the CITES convention in 2004, which means their trade is permitted but regulated by permits. A step that balanced protecting the tree with continuing the legal trade.
What does regulation mean for the buyer?
Regulation protects not only the tree but the buyer too; oud that comes from a regulated source carries a guarantee of authenticity, quality and legality, far from adulteration or illegal logging. That is why at Oud Treasure we are careful to supply natural Indonesian oud from organized sources, whether agarwood chips or otherwise. And to order a documented quantity, you can request a quotation, or begin with an oud sample.
Some may think regulating the trade complicates buying, but it is in fact a guarantee; it confirms that the oud you acquire is authentic, legal and sustainable, not the product of depletion or smuggling.
Conclusion
The oud trade was regulated to protect its threatened trees; oud was placed in the CITES convention in 2004, and its export came to require permits that guarantee its legality and sustainability. This regulation is a guarantee to the buyer of the authenticity of what they acquire. With this, we close our journey through the history of oud from the forests of Asia to the Arabian Peninsula. At Oud Treasure, we offer natural Indonesian oud from organized sources, straight to you.
We are an oud supplier from the source in Indonesia: natural Indonesian oud from organized sources, in wholesale quantities. Start with a sample or browse wholesale oud.
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Back to the start: The Guide to the History of Oud from the Forests of Asia to the Arabian Peninsula
