UNESCO has prepared this survey to update and enhance the UNESCO Database of National Cultural Heritage Laws (CultNatlaws Database). Widely consulted by law-enforcement authorities and art-market professionals, the database is an essential reference for determining the legality of cultural-property exports, imports and ownership transfers - and, therefore, a critical tool in the fight against illicit trafficking.
The information you provide will allow UNESCO to create - or refine - your country’s profile so that its legislative framework for protecting cultural heritage is accurately presented and easy to consult.
The information provided may also be used in other UNESCO studies and publications, such as the UNESCO Global Report on Cultural Policies.
Before completing the form, please review and verify the legislation already recorded for your country in the CultNatLaws Database. Any amendments, new texts or corrections can then be reported in the relevant fields below.
Structure of the Questionnaire
The questionnaire is divided into two sections, as follows:
Section I – Public Profile (Visible to all users of the Database)
- Sub-section 1: General national legal framework
- Sub-section 2: Export regulations, including restrictions/prohibitions
- Sub-section 3: Import regulations, including restrictions/prohibitions
- Sub-section 4: Regulations regarding the transit of cultural property and Freeports/Customs Warehouses
- Sub-section 5: Transfer of ownership regulations, including restrictions/prohibitions
- Sub-section 6: State ownership of the subsoil and regulation of archaeological excavations (both underground and underwater)
- Sub-section 7: International legal framework
Section II – Restricted Interface (Optional and accessible only to competent authorities via a secure database portal)
- Samples of certificates (import/export)
- Contact details of designated national authorities
Before You Begin
2. Gather relevant national legal texts, including:
- Laws in force (and repealed laws if applicable);
- Official translations (if available) *We encourage each State to proceed to the translation of their national laws to at least English, so that all international users can profit from the database efficiently;
- Any bilateral or international agreements, memorandums of understanding, treaties etc.;
- Export/Import Certificates or templates used by your authorities.
Guidelines for Completing the Questionnaire
1. Use DD/MM/YYYY as the date format throughout.
2. Provide clear references to relevant laws (articles, sections, clauses).
3. Questions marked with an asterisk “*” are mandatory.
4. Italicized examples marked as “E.g.” must be replaced with accurate country-specific data.
Important Notes
1. Do not merge several legislations into one file — instead, keep each document separate and properly named.
2. If any category does not apply, simply tick “No” or mark as “Not applicable”.
3. If your country is federal or has regional variations, please indicate whether rules differ by region or state, and specify which region(s) are concerned.
If you wish to share additional PDFs with the Secretariat, you may send them at the following address: natlawsdatabase@unesco.org
Thank you
We greatly appreciate your cooperation and contribution to this important initiative to strengthen the legal protection of cultural heritage worldwide.
Should you have any questions or require assistance, please contact the Secretariat of the 1970 Convention at natlawsdatabase@unesco.org.
