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

United Kingdom
DCMS has transferred the work of issuing
export licences and administering the
Reviewing Committee on the Export of
Works of Art & Objects of Cultural Interest
(RCEWA) to the Museums Libraries and Archives
Council (MLA). The MLA is the competent
authority for the issuing of Community
Export Licences (EU export licences)
and UK Export Licences through its Export
Licensing Unit: http://www.mla.gov.uk.
The export licensing controls for objects
of cultural interest are designed to balance
the need to keep nationally important objects
in the UK, the rights of owners and the
encouragement of a thriving art trade.
Do I need an export licence?
There are two licensing regimes in place: the
national legislation (under the 2003 Order) and
EU legislation as described in Chapter 2.
Under UK export legislation all cultural
objects, manufactured or produced more
than 50 years before the date of exportation
require an export licence (some limited
exceptions apply).
Henry Moore,
“Mother and Child Studies and Reclining
Figure”, 1977,
lithograph in two colours 382 x 310mm, edition
of 20 + 5 on T.H. Saunders 705 x 559mm,
Printer: Curwen Prints Ltd, London 1978.
In 2007 the British Council presented Henry
Moore’s graphics in twelve museums across
Russia, under the heading of a new British
Council programme entitled Russian Ring.
Six museums and galleries west of the Urals
and six to the east were selected: Volgograd,
Ekaterinburg, Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk, Nizny
Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Rostov, Samara,
Sochi, Tomsk and Yaroslavl. Curatorial staff
members from all twelve museums visited
Britain and as a result began to develop a
series of exhibitions. Henry Moore – Master
Printmaker was the exhibition that launched the
programme. Reproduced by permission of The
Henry Moore Foundation.
The UK’s Open General Export Licence
(OGEL) allows the general export of cultural
objects that are valued below certain financial
thresholds – these are quoted in the OGEL
regulations. If you want to export cultural
objects which are valued above these levels,
you will need an individual export licence.
Most cultural objects exported to Russia
would be subject to EU export licensing
legislation: if they fall into the relevant categories,
plus age or age and value criteria,
you will need an EU licence (see Annex to
Council Regulation 3911/92).
The MLA provides a number of clearly written,
downloadable leaflets and guidelines