Regulation (EU) 2019/880 of the European Parliament and of the Council assigned implementing powers to the European Commission to adopt uniform provisions for effectively enforcing new rules on the import of cultural goods. The present commentary navigates the text of the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1079 of 24 June 2021 (“Implementing Regulation”), adopted to ensure the uniform implementation of the said import legislation by the Member States. The text of the Committee’s instrument sets up exemptions from the documentation requirements for certain categories of goods; contains detailed provisions on import licenses and statements; and establishes rules for the electronic system for the import of cultural goods. The ambitious provisions of the Implementing Regulation raise some important questions, e.g. whether the electronic system will facilitate the work of custom agents or engulf it; or whether national export offices and legislative bodies will step up to the challenge and quickly adapt to the new system and new rules.

Regulation (EU) 2019/880 of the European Parliament and of the Council assigned implementing powers to the European Commission to adopt uniform provisions for effectively enforcing new rules on the import of cultural goods. The present commentary navigates the text of the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1079 of 24 June 2021 (“Implementing Regulation”), adopted to ensure the uniform implementation of the said import legislation by the Member States. The text of the Committee’s instrument sets up exemptions from the documentation requirements for certain categories of goods; contains detailed provisions on import licenses and statements; and establishes rules for the electronic system for the import of cultural goods. The ambitious provisions of the Implementing Regulation raise some important questions, e.g. whether the electronic system will facilitate the work of custom agents or engulf it; or whether national export offices and legislative bodies will step up to the challenge and quickly adapt to the new system and new rules.