The creation, sale and ownership of tortoiseshell and tortoiseshell products are controlled by Ministerial Decree of 14 October, 2006.

The five Reunionaise craftsmen with existing authorisation are members of the “l’Association des Ecaillistes de La Réunion”. The Association commits itself to using only tortoiseshell from captive-bred animals. Their licences, originally issued in 2000, have been renewed because the source of their raw tortoiseshell is guaranteed to have originated from the former CORAIL farm at Saint Leu.

The living workshop in Kelonia is intended to permit visitors to watch the creation of this complex and endemic Reunionaise art based uniquely on tortoiseshell from captive-bred turtles. The Regional Council fully supports and endorses this important art form in Reunion.