---
kind: "section"
citation: "19 U.S.C. § 2608"
title: "19"
title_heading: "Customs Duties"
number: "2608"
heading: "Temporary disposition of materials and articles subject to this chapter"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/19/2608"
units:
  - "Chapter 14 — Convention on Cultural Property"
---

# §2608. Temporary disposition of materials and articles subject to this chapter


Pending a final determination as to whether any archaeological or ethnological material, or any article of [cultural property](/usc/19/2601.md?p=6), has been imported into the [United States](/usc/19/2601.md?p=10) in violation of [section 2606 of this title](/usc/19/2606.md) or [section 2607 of this title](/usc/19/2607.md), the [Secretary](/usc/19/2601.md?p=8) shall, upon application by any museum or other cultural or scientific institution in the [United States](/usc/19/2601.md?p=10) which is open to the public, permit such material or article to be retained at such institution if he finds that—

- (1) sufficient safeguards will be taken by the institution for the protection of such material or article; and
- (2) sufficient bond is posted by the institution to ensure its return to the [Secretary](/usc/19/2601.md?p=8).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 97–446, title III, § 309, Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2360.)

## 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.