France

Operating in France has now become very difficult with the raft of regulations bearing down on even legitimate activities. The memories of purchasing multiple Sd.Kfz.250s, Sd.Kfz.251, Nebelwerfer, engines, gearboxes and numerous other items all over Europe to then transport them across France to the Channel for shipping by ferry or through Eurotunnel are still fresh. But times have changed. The French state has clamped down on this activity making it very difficult to bring items home let alone bring a vehicle back regardless of documentation such as proof of ownership, origin, etc. The problem, according to a French collector, is their legal system. The maxim under Napoleonic Law of ”guilty until proven innocent”, then a formidable civil service, recently tightened laws governing antiquities that can be imposed at the whim of the official are terrifying enough. Add the Channel with its obstacle course of French customs with a seemingly subjective rule book and you are left with a potentially fraught and very time-consuming journey back into the UK. There is an EU umbrella law, including the UK, that covers all individual national antiquities. For example, Germany have their ‘Kulturgeschuetz’ law dated 2016. France’s laws governing the area of what constitutes an item of artistic or historical interest ends with a catch all authority allowing officials to decide for themselves if an object is of historic interest. In other words, they can ignore all established objective criteria regardless of documentation and decide for themselves. Perhaps TV shows purporting to show the purchase of artefacts at exaggerated prices have alarmed the French Authorities. The UK system is straight forward enough, requiring a certificate from the Secretary of State via Department for Business, Innovation and Skills termed an Open General Export Licence (Historic Military and Artillery Pieces). Another is required (for each trip) from the Arts Council termed UK Export Licensing for Cultural Goods. Both applications, once successfully completed, result in an OGEL and Arts Council certificate. This is the first vital step but does not answer allow for all eventualities with French customs or civil service. The situation appears to be getting worse in recent years judging by the treatment of certain collectors in France and seizures of significant items at the ports. Many well-known museums and collections have been subjected to raids by the police and have had their collections confiscated. After Brexit who knows what will happen……….

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