Law, crime and regulation

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has again warned the art market that businesses must register under the 5th Money Laundering Directive by next month.

Alan Patrick, HMRC’s strategy lead for AMPs, details his top five tips for complying with the Money Laundering Regulations

A pair of 3ft 7in high (1.12m) Victorian iron pier finials cast as rampant lions have returned home after two decades missing from a family home.

The increasingly contentious issue of selling Benin works of art at auction raised its head again last week after an ancestral plaque catalogued as 16th or 17th century was withdrawn from an East Sussex sale.

The art and antiques sector has until April 21 to submit feedback on new rules on the import of cultural goods proposed by the European Union.

HMRC has renamed its Anti Money Laundering Supervision team as Economic Crime Supervision (ECS). The services will continue as normal.

Tapestry and textiles specialist S Franses is to face its landlord in court for the fourth time next month.

MADAM – As I read the ‘Fees proposal for ivory exemptions’ story (front page, ATG No 2484), I was overwhelmed by an attack of the Victor Meldrews.

BADA Ltd, the organiser of The Open Art Fair, has lost an appeal against a small claims court ruling that said two dealers need pay only part of their stand fee as the event was cut short.

The UK government is proposing a fee structure to cover the costs of processing antiques that qualify as exemptions under the 2018 Ivory Act.

For those who have studied or have even a passing interest in the field of art crime, Charles (or Charley) Hill was one of the giants in the world of recovering stolen masterpieces – from Munch’s 'The Scream' to Vermeer and Goya and many more.

MADAM – Re ‘EU propose ban on import and export of antique ivory’, front page, ATG No 2480.