Exporting fine art and cultural goods to the European Union

New obligations from 28 June 2025

Holly Piggott
Holly Piggott
Director, Alinea Customs, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Published 17 Sep 2025
Exporting fine art and cultural goods to the European Union
Photo by Pixabay from Pexels
Topic spotlight
Restrictions
On 28 June 2025, the European Union activated the Import of Cultural Goods (ICG) system, a centralised electronic platform for lodging and processing import licences and importer statements. This marks the full implementation of Regulation (EU) 2019/880 and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1079. For customs practitioners, this change means that imports of fine art, antiquities, and other cultural goods now require new documentation, new procedures, and closer risk management at the EU border.

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