The Federal Act on the International Transfer of Cultural Property (Cultural Property Transfer Act) and the Ordinance on the International Transfer of Cultural Property (Cultural Property Transfer Ordinance) enter into effect on June 1, 2005. These laws regulate for the first time under Swiss Law the import, export, and transfer of cultural property. Switzerland thus complies with international obligations made upon joining the UNESCO Convention from November 14, 1970 on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property (UNESCO Convention 1970).
At the same time, Switzerland underscores its commitment to protecting the cultural heritage as a fundamental interest of Swiss cultural policy. Thus, on the one hand, protecting Switzerland’s own heritage while, on the other, respecting the cultural heritage of other nations. As a member of the international community and as a siginificant center for art trade, Switzerland wants to actively support efforts aimed at protecting endangered cultural property. This is even more pressing today as increasing globalization also suggests a corresponding increase in the illicit art trade. Transparent market rules and coordinated interaction of the same are required to guarantee effective cultural property protection at both a national and international level as well as exchanges between equal partners.
This publication contains the official texts of the UNESCO Convention 1970 in English and French as well as unofficial German and Italian versions. Furthermore, unofficial English translations of the official German, French and Italian texts of the Cultural Property Transfer Act and Ordinance are also presented. This publication specifically pursues four goals: (i) to give an overview of the UNESCO Convention 1970, (ii) to introduce the new federal laws, so important for Swiss cultural operations and the art trade to English-speaking practitioners, (iii) to provide legal advisors in Switzerland an aid on issues of culture and art trade for cooperation with foreign colleagues in English, French, Italian or German, and finally, (iv) to simplify a direct comparison of the three official language versions of the Cultural Property Transfer Act and Cultural Property Transfer Ordinance.
At the same time, Switzerland underscores its commitment to protecting the cultural heritage as a fundamental interest of Swiss cultural policy. Thus, on the one hand, protecting Switzerland’s own heritage while, on the other, respecting the cultural heritage of other nations. As a member of the international community and as a siginificant center for art trade, Switzerland wants to actively support efforts aimed at protecting endangered cultural property. This is even more pressing today as increasing globalization also suggests a corresponding increase in the illicit art trade. Transparent market rules and coordinated interaction of the same are required to guarantee effective cultural property protection at both a national and international level as well as exchanges between equal partners.
This publication contains the official texts of the UNESCO Convention 1970 in English and French as well as unofficial German and Italian versions. Furthermore, unofficial English translations of the official German, French and Italian texts of the Cultural Property Transfer Act and Ordinance are also presented. This publication specifically pursues four goals: (i) to give an overview of the UNESCO Convention 1970, (ii) to introduce the new federal laws, so important for Swiss cultural operations and the art trade to English-speaking practitioners, (iii) to provide legal advisors in Switzerland an aid on issues of culture and art trade for cooperation with foreign colleagues in English, French, Italian or German, and finally, (iv) to simplify a direct comparison of the three official language versions of the Cultural Property Transfer Act and Cultural Property Transfer Ordinance.