---
kind: "section"
citation: "19 U.S.C. § 2606"
title: "19"
title_heading: "Customs Duties"
number: "2606"
heading: "Import restrictions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/19/2606"
units:
  - "Chapter 14 — Convention on Cultural Property"
---

# §2606. Import restrictions

- (a) **Documentation of lawful exportation—** No [designated archaeological or ethnological material](/usc/19/2601.md?p=7) that is exported (whether or not such exportation is to the [United States](/usc/19/2601.md?p=10)) from the [State Party](/usc/19/2601.md?p=9) after the designation of such material under [section 2604 of this title](/usc/19/2604.md) may be imported into the [United States](/usc/19/2601.md?p=10) unless the [State Party](/usc/19/2601.md?p=9) issues a certification or other documentation which certifies that such exportation was not in violation of the laws of the [State Party](/usc/19/2601.md?p=9).
- (b) **Customs action in absence of documentation—** If the [consignee](/usc/19/2601.md?p=4) of any [designated archaeological or ethnological material](/usc/19/2601.md?p=7) is unable to present to the customs officer concerned at the time of making [entry](/usc/19/1677.md?p=23) of such material—
  - (1) the certificate or other documentation of the [State Party](/usc/19/2601.md?p=9) required under [subsection (a)](#a); or
  - (2) satisfactory evidence that such material was exported from the [State Party](/usc/19/2601.md?p=9)—
    - (A) not less than ten years before the date of such [entry](/usc/19/1677.md?p=23) and that neither the [person](/usc/19/1683.md?p=8) for whose account the material is imported (or any related [person](/usc/19/1683.md?p=8)) contracted for or acquired an interest, directly or indirectly, in such material more than one year before that date of [entry](/usc/19/1677.md?p=23), or
    - (B) on or before the date on which such material was designated under [section 2604 of this title](/usc/19/2604.md),

  the customs officer concerned shall refuse to release the material from customs custody and send it to a bonded warehouse or store to be held at the risk and expense of the [consignee](/usc/19/2601.md?p=4), notwithstanding any other provision of law, until such documentation or evidence is filed with such officer. If such documentation or evidence is not presented within ninety days after the date on which such material is refused release from customs custody, or such longer period as may be allowed by the [Secretary](/usc/19/2601.md?p=8) for good cause shown, the material shall be subject to seizure and forfeiture. The presentation of such documentation or evidence shall not bar subsequent action under [section 2609 of this title](/usc/19/2609.md).

- (c) **“Satisfactory evidence” defined—** The term “satisfactory evidence” means—
  - (1) for purposes of [subsection (b)(2)(A)](#b-2-A)—
    - (A) one or more declarations under oath by the importer, or the [person](/usc/19/1683.md?p=8) for whose account the material is imported, stating that, to the best of his knowledge—
      - (i) the material was exported from the [State Party](/usc/19/2601.md?p=9) not less than ten years before the date of [entry](/usc/19/1677.md?p=23) into the [United States](/usc/19/2601.md?p=10), and
      - (ii) neither such importer or [person](/usc/19/1683.md?p=8) (or any related [person](/usc/19/1683.md?p=8)) contracted for or acquired an interest, directly or indirectly, in such material more than one year before the date of [entry](/usc/19/1677.md?p=23) of the material; and
    - (B) a statement provided by the consignor, or [person](/usc/19/1683.md?p=8) who sold the material to the importer, which [states](/usc/19/2577.md?p=2) the date, or, if not known, his belief, that the material was exported from the [State Party](/usc/19/2601.md?p=9) not less than ten years before the date of [entry](/usc/19/1677.md?p=23) into the [United States](/usc/19/2601.md?p=10), and the reasons on which the statement is based; and
  - (2) for purposes of [subsection (b)(2)(B)](#b-2-B)—
    - (A) one or more declarations under oath by the importer or the [person](/usc/19/1683.md?p=8) for whose account the material is to be imported, stating that, to the best of his knowledge, the material was exported from the [State Party](/usc/19/2601.md?p=9) on or before the date such material was designated under [section 2604 of this title](/usc/19/2604.md), and
    - (B) a statement by the consignor or [person](/usc/19/1683.md?p=8) who sold the material to the importer which [states](/usc/19/2577.md?p=2) the date, or if not known, his belief, that the material was exported from the [State Party](/usc/19/2601.md?p=9) on or before the date such material was designated under [section 2604 of this title](/usc/19/2604.md), and the reasons on which the statement is based.
- (d) **Related persons—** For purposes of subsections [(b)](#b) and [(c)](#c), a [person](/usc/19/1683.md?p=8) shall be treated as a related [person](/usc/19/1683.md?p=8) to an importer, or to a [person](/usc/19/1683.md?p=8) for whose account material is imported, if such [person](/usc/19/1683.md?p=8)—
  - (1) is a member of the same family as the importer or [person](/usc/19/1683.md?p=8) of account, including, but not limited to, membership as a brother or sister (whether by whole or half blood), spouse, ancestor, or lineal descendant;
  - (2) is a partner or associate with the importer or [person](/usc/19/1683.md?p=8) of account in any partnership, association, or other venture; or
  - (3) is a corporation or other legal entity in which the importer or [person](/usc/19/1683.md?p=8) of account directly or indirectly owns, controls, or holds power to vote 20 percent or more of the outstanding voting stock or shares in the entity.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 97–446, title III, § 307, Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2358.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective on the 90th day after Jan. 12, 1983, or on any date which the President shall prescribe and publish in the Federal Register, with exceptions, see section 315 of Pub. L. 97–446, set out as a note under section 2601 of this title.

### Executive Documents

### Delegation of Functions

For delegation of certain functions of President under this section, see Ex. Ord. No. 12555, Mar. 10, 1986, 51 F.R. 8475, set out as a note under section 2602 of this title.