Arts and crafts

Export procedure

I-INTRODUCTION

Côte d’Ivoire has signed the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the illicit Traffic in Cultural Property, concerning the measures to be taken to prohibit and prevent the illicit import, export and transfer of ownership of cultural property.                                      This Convention calls for the establishment of Export Certificates for Cultural Property.
In Côte d’Ivoire, Law N°87- 806 of 28 july 1987 on the protection of cultural heritage, has integrated provisions in this sense, notably in Art.58 and 59 of the law.
Thus, the export of classified Movable Cultural Property is prohibited. However, an exceptional authorisation may be granted for a limited time, subject to the return of the object to Côte d’Ivoire.
The export of unclassified Works of Art (other than Modern Art) is subject to prior authorisation in the form of an Export Certificate. This authorisation is mandatory and is required at customs controls at all borders.

Exports of Modern Art and Contemporary Handicrafts are currently subject to a prior declaration with the issue of an Export Autorisation (Indeed, at the time of writing, Law 87-806 is being revised).
The Musée des Civilisations de Côte d’Ivoire – See. Order N° 2017-059/MCF/CAB – and the Musée National du Costume de Grand-Bassam  are the two National Institutions that issue Export Authorizations for Arts and Crafts.
A non-exhaustive list of the objects concerned can be found at the end of the procedure.

The following objects cannot receive a Museum Certificate because they are not allowed to leave the Museum : 

  • Archaeological Pieces such as the ax and the polished stone, the cut stone,
  • Diamond, Gold, Jewelery in precious stones,
  • Milking Guns,
  • Any object in ivory and any old object over 70 years old.

 

blocContact1Ministry of Culture and Francophonie
Cité Administrative
Tower E, 21st floor, Door 25
BP V 39 Abidjan – Côte d’Ivoire
Phone : (+225) 20 21 83 94
Email : miniculture.francophonie@gmail.com
Website : http://www.culture.gouv.ci/page

Musée des Civilisations de Côte d’Ivoire
In front of the Etat-Major des Armées (Camp Gallieni) et à côté des Tours Administratives
01 BP 1600 Abidjan 01
Abidjan – Plateau – Côte d’Ivoire
Phone : (+ 225) 20 22 20 56
Location/Localization : Google Map

Musée National du Costume de Grand-Bassam
Tel : (+225) 21 30 13 70
Site Internet : http://www.museeducostume.ci/musee.php
Location/Localization : (GoogleMap) Google Map

II-AUTHORIZATION to EXPORT

Any natural or legal person is entitled to export art objects or handicrafts on condition that they obtain an Export Certificate issued by the Museum of Civilisations of Côte d’Ivoire or the National Museum of Costume of Grand-Bassam.
This Export Authorisation is compulsory and required at customs control for any Art or Craft item, whatever the number of pieces transported as freight or accompanied luggage.
It is also reminded that the Importation or Exportation of any goods whatsoever requires the prior obtaining of a Code Importer/Exporte (professional ou occasional) – See. Legal regimes for imports and exports.

III-DOCUMENTS

  1. Procedure for obtaining the Export Certificate
  • Presentation of the Art or Craft Object to the Museum of Civilization or the Museum of Grand Bassam for an inspection and expertise request.
  • Control and expertise of the art object presented, in order to verify that it is not under investigation or banned from leaving the national territory
  • Information to be provided for the issuance of the Export Authorisation (AE) – See. Example AE – are as follow:

 

  • Full name of the traveler or sender
  • Identity Document Number (Passport, Identity Card, Identity Certificate or any other equivalent document)
  • Address in Ivory Coast
    • Destination address
    • List of Objects
    • Photography of Objects (new measure)
  • Completion of the Form and the Receipt of the Payment o the Treasury taking into account the information provided by the user
  • Cost of the Export Authorization : 2,000 FCFA for printed matter and 500 FCFA per item
  • The Authorization must be signed by the Director of one of the two (2) museums (or in his absence, by the Head of the Certificates Department).
  • Control and monitoring by the Border Police or Customs.
  1. Export Certificate and Foreign Exchange Commitment

The Export Certificate and the Exchange Commitment are documents necessary to validate the Customs Export Declaration for any goods whose value is greater than ten (10) million FCFA.
The Export Certificate  – See. Example AE – and Exchange Commitment – See. Example EC – are established online en via the transactional site of the Foreign le Trade Single Window (GUCE). Acess to the site requires prior registration as an Importer, Exporter or Forwarder.

The information to be provided is as follows :

  • Professional Exporter Code (or Occasional Export Code)
  • Name and address of the Declarant
  • Information appearing on the invoice (name of the receiver, HS code of the goods, quantity, amount invoiced, etc.)
  • Name of the bank (in Côte d’Ivoire) involved in the transaction.
  • The invoice

To be noted
Beyond a value exceeding ten (10) million FCFA, Exports to non-UEMOA countries are subject to domiciliation with an approved intermediary. – Art. 13, UEMOA regulation 09/2010/CM.
The Exporter is then required to establish a Foreign Exchange Undertaking and an Export Certificate. These documents are required to validate the Customs Export Declaration.

  1. Customs declaration

List of documents to be given to the freight forwarder to make the Customs Export Declaration :

  • The Exporter Code.
  • The Original Invoice.
  • The Export Certificate, via the GUCE (can be done by the freight forwarder).
  • The Exchange Commitment, via the GUCE (can be carried out by the freight forwarder).
  • The Certificate of Origin (EUR1 or UEMOA/ECOWAS or Form A) if necessary.
  • The Export Authorization from one of the museums.
  1. Goods travelling in accompanied luggage

The Export Authorisation is also compulsory for any Art or Craft Objects travelling with their owner (Export Certificate not compulsory in this case). 

IV-LIST OF PRODUCTS

Technique

Materials

Products

Sculpture

wood, metal, clay, vegetable fibre, stone, bone.

Masks, Statuettes, Statues, Carved doors, Drums, Locks, Reels, Canes, Stools, Chairs, Weaving looms, Membrane drums, Flycrackers, Slotted drums, Tam-tam, Pirogues, Combs, Ordinary and ceremonial spoons, Ointment boxes.

Forge

Iron, Silver, Bronze, Gold and Other copper alloys.

Bells, bells, scraped gongs and idiophones/rings, wrought iron objects (bracelets, anklets, silverware).

Lost wax casting

 

Lost wax statuettes, gold weights and all traditional insignia of power.

Pottery and modelling

Clay

Traditional objects such as jars, jugs, gargoyles, pots, vases and other ancient household objects, statuettes, pipes, necklaces.

Weaving (Traditional loincloths)

Cotton, Silk or Wool and Bark

Woven loincloths, some traditional woven objects of various fibres and other techniques of traditional painted, dyed loincloths, raffia fibre loincloths, tapa, etc.

Basketry

Rattan, Reeds, Raphia and various leaves

Rigid hoods, baskets, mats and other antique basketry objects or representing objects of daily use.

Painting, Tapestry

Canvas, Paper, Cardboard, Plywood, Wood, Glass, Wall

Paintings, Tapestry, Painted furniture, etc.