Italy's 'Italia in Scena' Law Reform Alters Cultural Heritage Code and Art Market Regulations

The Italian Senate approved the 'Italia in Scena' legislative proposal on March 11, 2026, modifying the Cultural Heritage and Landscape Code to promote horizontal subsidiarity in cultural asset management. The reform raises the single threshold for export authorization from €13,500 to €50,000, though this remains below European standards like France's €300,000 threshold for paintings. Alessandra Di Castro, gallerist and president of the Gruppo Apollo Association, participated in parliamentary hearings representing art sector interests, highlighting ongoing challenges including bureaucratic delays, insufficient digitalization, and lack of transparency for privately-owned notified assets. The changes aim to balance protection with market competitiveness while addressing structural issues in Italy's art ecosystem.