EU Cultural Goods Import Rules Spark Market Exodus, Dealer Warns

Christian Deydier, a French art dealer, has expressed his apprehensions regarding the EU's Regulation (EU) 2019/880 concerning cultural goods, which will take effect on June 28, 2025. This regulation, enacted on April 17, 2019, was a reaction to terrorist acts in Syria and Iraq and requires import licenses for items exceeding 250 years in age and those obtained from archaeological digs. Additionally, it necessitates importer declarations for items older than 200 years valued over €18,000, to be submitted through the ICG platform. Deydier, who specializes in Chinese art, has shut down his Paris gallery and relocated to Hong Kong, stating that the regulation is "the straw that broke the camel's back," and poses a threat to the art ecosystem by emphasizing provenance over quality.