On July 14, 2017, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published in the Federal Register a final rule [CBP Dec. 17-07] that amends the CBP regulations to reflect an extension of import restrictions on Pre-Classical and Classical archaeological objects, and Byzantine and post-Byzantine ecclesiastical and ritual ethnological materials from Cyprus. The restrictions, which were originally imposed by Treasury Decision 02-37, and last extended by CBP Dec. 12-13, are due to expire on July 16, 2017. The Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, United States Department of State, has determined that conditions continue to warrant the imposition of import restrictions. Accordingly, these import restrictions will remain in effect for an additional five years, and the CBP regulations are being amended to reflect this extension through July 16, 2022.
These restrictions are being extended pursuant to determinations of the United States Department of State made under the terms of the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act in accordance with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. CBP Dec. 12-13 contains the Amended Designated List of all archaeological objects and Byzantine and Post-Byzantine ecclesiastical and ritual ethnological materials from Cyprus, to which the restrictions apply. The rule is effective July 16, 2017.
