A guide to the export and import of cultural goods between Russia ...

Germany
The 1998 Act, although primarily intended to
implement the Council Directive 93/7/EEC,
established new procedures for registration
of cultural objects of national importance in
Germany. This created the legal basis for
the control of exports of registered cultural
objects which is set out in the later revised
texts of the Act. The process of registration
of cultural objects of national importance is
managed at the Land level and described
in more detail below.
The decision on the issue of export licences for
listed cultural objects (i.e. objects on the register)
is the responsibility of the Federal Government
Commissioner for Culture and the Media
(BKM). The section of the BKM which deals
with export licences is Referat K 42.
For the export of cultural goods which
are not registered but are covered by EU
legislation (see Chapter 2 for the categories,
value and age thresholds which apply),
licensing authorities in the 16 Länder
of Germany issue EU export licences. In
some Länder there is more than one licensing
authority, often separate authorities for
cultural goods and archives.
Do I need an export licence?
Hat clasp with the “Dresden green diamond”
from the Green Vault (Grünes Gewölbe) in
Dresden. 1768–69. It was exhibited at the
Kremlin Museum in Moscow from May to
August 2006 as part of a major exhibition
from the collection. The Grünes Gewölbe
enjoys world renown as one of Europe’s most
sumptuous treasure chambers.
© Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden,
Grünes Gewölbe.
Photo: Karpinski.
If you want to export cultural goods from
Germany to Russia, you must check
whether the cultural goods fall within the
scope of Council Regulation 3911/92 –
there are various categories of goods with
age or age and value thresholds, starting
with goods over 50 years old. If they are
covered by this legislation, you must have
an EU export licence to take them to Russia,
or another country outside the EU.
If the goods are listed as being of national
importance, you will need to obtain a separate
licence which allows them to leave
Germany.