Import of cultural goods from non-EU countries.

Effective June 28, 2025, Regulation (EU) 2019/880, which introduces important changes for the import of non-EU cultural goods, is in force.

The goal? To protect the world’s cultural heritage and combat its illicit trafficking.

What Regulation 880 provides for:

• Specific obligations for the entry into the EU of cultural goods created or discovered outside the European customs territory.
• A digital system (ICG) for managing customs licenses and declarations.
• Exclusions for museum collections, legitimate re-entries, and goods from countries in conflict.

Obligations for operators.

Importers and museum institutions will have to:

• Apply for licenses for the most sensitive goods.
• Submit declarations of compliance for other cases.
• Register on the ICG system to manage practices and waivers.