Summary: Recently, the German Bundestag adopted a new Law on the Protection of Cultural Property. German State Minister of Culture Monika Grütters emphasized that the new Law on the Protection of Cultural Property will more effectively protect the precious cultura

Recently, the German Bundestag adopted a new Law on the Protection of Cultural Property. German State Minister of Culture Monika Grütters emphasized that the new Law on the Protection of Cultural Property will more effectively protect the precious cultural heritage of Germany and the world,and combat illegal trade in antiquities activities. She also said the new bill shows that Germany finally recognized the legal framework and legal standards set by UNESCO Convention in 1970.

The main changes in the new bill include the following aspects: First, the new bill states that the most important purpose of the bill is to protect "art and artifacts that the most capable of carrying German culture " to prevent the outflow of these artifacts causing heavy losses to Germany. Second, the new bill sets strictly limits on the transaction price and years of art. Third, for trading carried out within the EU, the new law provides a special clause. Fourth, for the works of living artists, whether the art work included in the national list of protected cultural heritage are decided by the artist himself. Fifth, for exhibition loan of artifacts between museums, the new act also clearly stated. Sixth, the new bill provides for more stringent control and review of transactions of cultural relics from a terrorist organization controlled areas or nations.

Some scholars have pointed out that the new German law is not only the protection of cultural property in their fight against illegal excavation of cultural relics, the illegal trade in cultural activities to prevent the destruction of cultural heritage and to provide for terms of lost overseas, but also with particular emphasis on the protection of the cultural heritage of other countries, and enhance the supervision of antique market to prevent illegal excavation, theft of trade in antiquities, clearly defined that artifacts from abroad by illegal excavation and illegal export in Germany also considered illegal, and details the rules of the return of illegal artifacts. This law will play a positive role in the protection of cultural heritage in the world including China.