81 FR 87805 - Import Restrictions Imposed on Certain Archaeological Material From Egypt

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 234 (December 6, 2016)

This final rule amends the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations to reflect the imposition of import restrictions on certain archaeological material from the Arab Republic of Egypt (Egypt). These restrictions are being imposed pursuant to an agreement between the United States and Egypt that has been entered into under the authority of the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act in accordance with the 1970 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. The final rule amends CBP regulations by adding Egypt to the list of countries for which a bilateral agreement has been entered into for imposing cultural property import restrictions. The final rule also contains the designated list that describes the types of archaeological material to which the restrictions apply.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 234 (Tuesday, December 6, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 87805-87810]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-29191]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

19 CFR Part 12

[CBP Dec. 16-23]
RIN 1515-AE19


Import Restrictions Imposed on Certain Archaeological Material 
From Egypt

AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland 
Security; Department of the Treasury.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This final rule amends the U.S. Customs and Border Protection 
(CBP) regulations to reflect the imposition of import restrictions on 
certain archaeological material from the Arab Republic of Egypt 
(Egypt). These restrictions are being imposed pursuant to an agreement 
between the United States and Egypt that has been entered into under 
the authority of the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act 
in accordance with the 1970 United Nations Educational, Scientific and 
Cultural Organization

[[Page 87806]]

(UNESCO) Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the 
Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. 
The final rule amends CBP regulations by adding Egypt to the list of 
countries for which a bilateral agreement has been entered into for 
imposing cultural property import restrictions. The final rule also 
contains the designated list that describes the types of archaeological 
material to which the restrictions apply.

DATES: Effective December 5, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For legal aspects, Lisa L. Burley, 
Chief, Cargo Security, Carriers and Restricted Merchandise Branch, 
Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade, (202) 325-0030. For 
operational aspects, William Scopa, Branch Chief, Partner Government 
Agency Branch, Trade Policy and Programs, Office of Trade, (202) 863-
6554, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The value of cultural property, whether archaeological or 
ethnological in nature, is immeasurable. Such items often constitute 
the very essence of a society and convey important information 
concerning a people's origin, history, and traditional setting. The 
importance and popularity of such items regrettably makes them targets 
of theft, encourages clandestine looting of archaeological sites, and 
results in their illegal export and import.
    The United States shares in the international concern for the need 
to protect endangered cultural property. The appearance in the United 
States of stolen or illegally exported artifacts from other countries 
where there has been pillage has, on occasion, strained our foreign and 
cultural relations. This situation, combined with the concerns of 
museum, archaeological, and scholarly communities, was recognized by 
the President and Congress. It became apparent that it was in the 
national interest for the United States to join with other countries to 
control illegal trafficking of such articles in international commerce.
    The United States joined international efforts and actively 
participated in deliberations resulting in the 1970 United Nations 
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Convention 
on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export 
and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property (823 U.N.T.S. 231 
(1972)). U.S. acceptance of the 1970 UNESCO Convention was codified 
into U.S. law as the ``Convention on Cultural Property Implementation 
Act'' (Pub. L. 97-446, 19 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.) (the Act). This was done 
to promote U.S. leadership in achieving greater international 
cooperation towards preserving cultural treasures that are of 
importance to the nations from where they originate and contribute to 
greater international understanding of our common heritage.
    Since the Act entered into force, import restrictions have been 
imposed on the archaeological and ethnological materials of a number of 
State Parties to the 1970 UNESCO Convention. These restrictions have 
been imposed as a result of requests for protection received from those 
nations. More information on import restrictions can be found on the 
Cultural Property Protection Web site (http://eca.state.gov/cultural-heritage-center/cultural-property-protection).
    This rule announces that import restrictions are now being imposed 
on certain archaeological material from Egypt.

Determinations

    Under 19 U.S.C. 2602(a)(1), the United States must make certain 
determinations before entering into an agreement to impose import 
restrictions under 19 U.S.C. 2602(a)(2). On November 14, 2014, the 
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of 
State, made the determinations required under the statute with respect 
to certain archaeological material originating in Egypt that are 
described in the designated list set forth below in this document. 
These determinations include the following: (1) That the cultural 
patrimony of Egypt is in jeopardy from the pillage of archaeological 
material representing Egypt's cultural heritage dating from the 
Predynastic period (5,200 B.C.) through 1517 A.D. (19 U.S.C. 
2602(a)(1)(A)); (2) that the Egyptian government has taken measures 
consistent with the Convention to protect its cultural patrimony (19 
U.S.C. 2602(a)(1)(B)); (3) that import restrictions imposed by the 
United States would be of substantial benefit in deterring a serious 
situation of pillage and remedies less drastic are not available (19 
U.S.C. 2602(a)(1)(C)); and (4) that the application of import 
restrictions as set forth in this final rule is consistent with the 
general interests of the international community in the interchange of 
cultural property among nations for scientific, cultural, and 
educational purposes (19 U.S.C. 2602(a)(1)(D)). The Assistant Secretary 
also found that the material described in the determinations meets the 
statutory definition of ``archaeological material of the state party'' 
(19 U.S.C. 2601(2)).

The Agreement

    The United States and Egypt entered into a bilateral agreement on 
November 30, 2016, pursuant to the provisions of 19 U.S.C. 2602(a)(2). 
The agreement enables the promulgation of import restrictions on 
categories of archaeological material representing Egypt's cultural 
heritage dating from the Predynastic period (5,200 B.C.) through 1517 
A.D. A list of the categories of archaeological material subject to the 
import restrictions is set forth later in this document.

Restrictions and Amendment to the Regulations

    In accordance with the Agreement, importation of material 
designated below is subject to the restrictions of 19 U.S.C. 2606 and 
Sec.  12.104g(a) of the CBP regulations (19 CFR 12.104g(a)) and will be 
restricted from entry into the United States unless the conditions set 
forth in 19 U.S.C. 2606 and Sec.  12.104c of the CBP regulations (19 
CFR 12.104c) are met. CBP is amending Sec.  12.104g(a) of the CBP 
Regulations (19 CFR 12.104g(a)) to indicate that these import 
restrictions have been imposed.

Designated List of Archaeological Material of Egypt

    The bilateral agreement between the United States and Egypt 
includes, but is not limited to, the categories of objects described in 
the designated list set forth below. These categories of objects are 
subject to the import restrictions set forth above, in accordance with 
the above explained applicable law and the regulation amended in this 
document (19 CFR 12.104(g)(a)). The import restrictions include 
complete examples of objects and fragments thereof.
    The archaeological material represent the following periods and 
cultures dating from 5,200 B.C. through 1517 A.D.: Predynastic, 
Pharaonic, Greco-Roman, Coptic, and Early Islamic through the Mamluk 
Dynasty. Many of the ancient place-names associated with the region of 
Egypt can be found in J. Baines and J. Malek, Cultural Atlas of Ancient 
Egypt (New York, 2000).

I. Stone

A. Sculpture

    1. Architectural elements, from temples, tombs, palaces, 
commemorative monuments, and domestic architecture, including columns, 
capitals, bases, lintels, jambs, friezes, pilasters, engaged columns, 
mihrabs (prayer niches), fountains, and blocks from walls, floors, and 
ceilings.

[[Page 87807]]

Often decorated in relief with ornamental Pharaonic, Greco-Roman, and 
Coptic motifs and inscriptions. The most common architectural stones 
are limestone, sandstone and granite.
    2. Statues, large- and small-scale, including human, animal, and 
hybrid figures with a human body and animal head. Human figures may be 
standing, usually with the left foot forward, seated on a block or on 
the ground, kneeling, or prone. Figures in stone may be supported by a 
slab of stone at the back. Greco-Roman examples use traditional 
Egyptian poses with Hellenistic modeling. The most popular stones are 
limestone, granite, basalt, sandstone, and diorite, and many other 
types of stone are used as well.
    3. Relief sculpture, large- and small-scale, including Predynastic 
greywacke cosmetic palettes, limestone wall reliefs depicting scenes of 
daily life and rituals, and steles and plaques in a variety of stones 
for funerary and commemorative purposes.
    4. Greco-Roman and Coptic tombstones.

B. Vessels and Containers

    Includes conventional shapes such as bowls, cups, jars, and lamps, 
and vessels having the form of human, animal, hybrid, plant, 
hieroglyphic sign, and combinations or parts thereof.

C. Funerary Objects and Equipment

    1. Sarcophagi and coffins, with separate lid, either in the form of 
a large rectangular box, or human-shaped and carved with modeled human 
features. Both types are often decorated inside and outside with 
incised images and inscriptions.
    2. Canopic shrines, in the form of a box with space inside for four 
canopic jars.
    3. Canopic jars with lids in the form of human or animal heads. A 
full set includes four jars. Sometimes these jars are dummies, carved 
from a single piece of stone with no interior space.

D. Objects of Daily Use

    Including chests and boxes, headrests, writing and painting 
equipment, games and game pieces.

E. Tools and Weapons

    Chipped stone includes large and small blades, borers, scrapers, 
sickles, awls, harpoons, cores, loom weights, and arrow heads. Ground 
stone types include mortars, pestles, millstones, whetstones, choppers, 
axes, hammers, molds, and mace heads.

F. Jewelry, Amulets, and Seals

    1. Jewelry of colored and semi-precious stones for personal 
adornment, including necklaces, chokers, pectorals, pendants, crowns, 
earrings, bracelets, anklets, belts, girdles, aprons, and rings.
    2. Amulets of colored and semi-precious stones in the form of 
humans, animals, hybrids, plants, hieroglyphic signs, and combinations 
or parts thereof.
    3. Stamp and cylinder seals. The most common type is the scarab, in 
the form of a beetle with an inscription on the flat base.

G. Ostraca

    Chips of stone used as surface for writing or drawing.

II. Metal

A. Sculpture

    1. Statues, large- and small-scale, including human, animal, and 
hybrid figures similar to those in stone. Metal statues usually lack 
the support at the back. The most common material is bronze and copper 
alloys, and gold and silver are used as well.
    2. Relief sculpture, including plaques, appliques, and mummy masks.

B. Vessels and Containers

    Includes conventional shapes such as bowls, cups, jars, plates, 
cauldrons, and lamps, and vessels in the form of humans, animals, 
hybrids, plants, hieroglyphic signs, and combinations or parts thereof.

C. Objects of Daily Use

    Musical instruments, including trumpets, clappers, and sistra.

D. Tools

    Including axes, adzes, saws, drills, chisels, knives, hooks, 
needles, tongs, tweezers, and weights. Usually in bronze and copper 
alloys, later joined by iron.

E. Weapons and Armor

    1. Weapons include mace heads, knives, swords, curved swords, axes, 
arrows, and spears. Usually in bronze and copper alloys, later joined 
by iron.
    2. Early armor consisted of small metal scales, originally sewn to 
a backing of cloth or leather, later augmented by helmets, body armor, 
shields, and horse armor.

F. Jewelry, Amulets, and Seals

    1. Jewelry of gold, silver, copper, and iron for personal 
adornment, including necklaces, pectorals, pendants, crowns, earrings, 
bracelets, anklets, belts, and rings.
    2. Amulets in the form of humans, animals, hybrids, plants, 
hieroglyphic signs, and combinations or parts thereof.

G. Coptic Liturgical Objects

    In metal, including censers, crosses, Bible caskets, and lamps.

H. Coins

    In copper or bronze, silver, and gold.
    1. General--There are a number of references that list Egyptian 
coin types. Below are some examples. Most Hellenistic and Ptolemaic 
coin types are listed in R.S. Poole, A Catalogue of Greek Coins in the 
British Museum: Alexandria and the Nomes (London, 1893); J.N. Svoronos, 
[Tgr][alpha] N[ogr][mu][iota][sigma][mu][alpha][tau][alpha] 
[tau][ogr][upsi] [Kgr][rho][alpha][tau][ogr][upsi][sigma] 
[tau][omega][nu] [Pi][tau][ogr][lambda]e[mu][alpha][iota][omega][nu] 
(M[uuml]nzen der Ptolem[auml]er) (Athens 1904); and R.A. Hazzard, 
Ptolemaic Coins: An Introduction for Collectors (Toronto, 1985). 
Examples of catalogues listing the Roman coinage in Egypt are J.G. 
Milne, Catalogue of Alexandrian Coins (Oxford, 1933); J.W. Curtis, The 
Tetradrachms of Roman Egypt (Chicago, 1969); A. Burnett, M. Amandry, 
and P.P Ripoll[egrave]s, Roman Provincial Coinage I: From the Death of 
Caesar to the Death of Vitellius (44 BC-AD 69) (London, 1998--revised 
edition); and A. Burnett, M. Amandry, and I. Carradice, Roman 
Provincial Coinage II: From Vespasian to Domitian (AD 69-96) (London, 
1999). There are also so-called nwb-nfr coins, which may date to 
Dynasty 30. See T. Faucher, W. Fischer-Bossert, and S. Dhennin, ``Les 
Monnaies en or aux types hi[eacute]roglyphiques nwb nfr,'' Bulletin de 
l'institut fran[ccedil]ais d'arch[eacute]ologie orientale 112 (2012), 
pp. 147-169.
    2. Dynasty 30--Nwb nfr coins have the hieroglyphs nwb nfr on one 
side and a horse on the other.
    3. Hellenistic and Ptolemaic coins--Struck in gold, silver, and 
bronze at Alexandria and any other mints that operated within the 
borders of the modern Egyptian state. Gold coins of and in honor of 
Alexander the Great, struck at Alexandria and Memphis, depict a 
helmeted bust of Athena on the obverse and a winged Victory on the 
reverse. Silver coins of Alexander the Great, struck at Alexandria and 
Memphis, depict a bust of Herakles wearing the lion skin on the 
obverse, or ``heads'' side, and a seated statue of Olympian Zeus on the 
reverse, or ``tails'' side. Gold coins of the Ptolemies from Egypt will 
have jugate portraits on both obverse and reverse, a portrait of the 
king on the obverse and a cornucopia on the reverse, or a jugate 
portrait of the king and queen on the obverse and cornucopiae on the 
reverse. Silver coins of the Ptolemies coins from Egypt tend to depict 
a portrait of Alexander wearing an elephant skin on the obverse and 
Athena on the reverse or a portrait

[[Page 87808]]

of the reigning king with an eagle on the reverse. Some silver coins 
have jugate portraits of the king and queen on the obverse. Bronze 
coins of the Ptolemies commonly depict a head of Zeus (bearded) on the 
obverse and an eagle on the reverse. These iconographical descriptions 
are non-exclusive and describe only some of the more common examples. 
There are other types and variants. Approximate date: ca. 332 B.C. 
through ca. 31 B.C.
    4. Roman coins--Struck in silver or bronze at Alexandria and any 
other mints that operated within the borders of the modern Egyptian 
state in the territory of the modern state of Egypt until the monetary 
reforms of Diocletian. The iconography of the coinage in the Roman 
period varied widely, although a portrait of the reigning emperor is 
almost always present on the obverse of the coin. Approximate date: ca. 
31 B.C. through ca. A.D. 294.

III. Ceramic and Clay

A. Sculpture

    Terracotta statues and statuettes, including human, animal, and 
hybrid figures.

B. Islamic Architectural Decorations

    Including carved and molded brick, and tile wall ornaments and 
panels.

C. Vessels and Containers

    1. Predynastic pottery, typically having a burnished red body with 
or without a white-painted decoration, or a burnished red body and 
black top, or a burnished black body sometimes with incised decoration, 
or an unburnished light brown body with dark red painted decoration, 
including human and animal figures and boats, spirals, or an abstract 
design.
    2. Dynastic period pottery features primarily utilitarian but also 
ornate forms, typically undecorated, sometimes burnished. New Kingdom 
examples may have elaborate painted, incised, and molded decoration, 
especially floral motifs depicted in blue paint.
    3. Roman period pottery includes vessels with rilled decoration, 
pilgrim flasks and terra sigillata, a high quality table ware made of 
red to reddish brown clay, and covered with a glossy slip.
    4. Coptic pilgrim flasks, and decorated ceramic jars and bowls.
    5. Islamic glazed, molded, and painted ceramics.

D. Objects of Daily Use

    Including game pieces, loom weights, toys, and lamps.

E. Writing

    1. Ostraca, pottery shards used as surface for writing or drawing.
    2. Cuneiform tablets, typically small pillow-shaped rectangles of 
unbaked clay incised with patterns of wedge-shaped cuneiform symbols.

IV. Wood

A. Sculpture

    1. Statues, large- and small-scale, including human, animal, and 
hybrid figures. Shabti statuettes, small mummiform human figures, are 
especially popular. Wood statues usually lack the support at the back.
    2. Relief sculpture, large- and small-scale, including relief 
plaques for funerary purposes.

B. Architectural Elements

    1. Coptic carved and inlaid wood panels, doors, ceilings, and 
altars, often decorated with floral, geometric, and Christian motifs.
    2. Islamic carved and inlaid wood rooms, balconies, stages, panels, 
ceilings, and doors.

C. Funerary Objects and Equipment

    1. Sarcophagi and coffins, with separate lid, either in the form of 
a large rectangular box, or human-shaped and carved with modeled human 
features. Both types are often decorated inside and outside with 
painted, inlaid or incised images, and inscriptions.
    2. Mummy masks, often painted, inlaid, and covered with gold foil.
    3. Funerary models, including boats, buildings, food, and 
activities from everyday life.
    4. Shrines to house sarcophagi or statuettes of deities.
    5. Food containers in the shape of the product they contain, such 
as bread or a duck.

D. Objects of Daily Use

    Including furniture such as chairs, stools, beds, chests and boxes, 
headrests, writing and painting equipment, musical instruments, game 
boxes and pieces, walking sticks, chariots and chariot fittings.

E. Tools and Weapons

    Including adzes, axes, bow drills, carpenter's levels and squares, 
bows, arrows, spears.

V. Faience and Glass

A. Egyptian Faience

    A glossy, silicate-based fired material, is usually blue or 
turquoise, but other colors are found as well. It was popular for 
statuettes, including human, animal, and hybrid figures, vessels and 
containers, canopic jars, game pieces, seals, amulets, jewelry, and 
inlays in all types of objects.

B. Glass

    1. Pharaonic glass containers are typically small and often 
elaborately decorated with multi-colored bands.
    2. The Roman period introduced a great variety of hand-blown 
shapes.
    3. Islamic vessels and containers in glass, including glass and 
enamel mosque lamps.

VI. Ivory, Bone, and Shell

A. Sculpture

    Statuettes of ivory, including human, animal, and hybrid figures, 
and parts thereof. Some of the earliest Egyptian sculpture is in ivory.

B. Objects of Daily Use

    Ivory, bone, and shell were used either alone or as inlays in 
luxury objects including furniture, chests and boxes, writing and 
painting equipment, musical instruments, games, cosmetic containers, 
combs, jewelry, amulets, and seals.

VII. Plaster and Cartonnage

A. Plaster

    Typically molded and then decorated with paint or gilding for mummy 
masks, jewelry, and other objects in imitation of expensive materials. 
Also used by itself for life masks and sculptor's models.

B. Cartonnage

    Pieces of papyrus or linen covered with plaster and molded into a 
shape, similar to papier-m[acirc]ch[eacute], and then painted or 
gilded. Used for coffins and mummy masks. Today, cartonnage objects are 
sometimes dismantled in hopes of extracting inscribed papyrus 
fragments.

C. Stucco

    Islamic architectural decoration in stucco.

VIII. Textile, Basketry, and Rope

A. Textile

    1. Linen cloth was used in Pharaonic and Greco-Roman times for 
mummy wrapping, shrouds, garments, and sails.
    2. Coptic textiles in linen and wool, including garments and 
hangings.
    3. Islamic textile fragments.

B. Basketry

    Plant fibers were used to make baskets and containers in a variety 
of shapes and sizes, as well as sandals and mats.

C. Rope

    Rope and string were used for a great variety of purposes, 
including binding

[[Page 87809]]

planks together in shipbuilding, rigging, lifting water for irrigation, 
fishing nets, measuring, and stringing beads for jewelry and garments.

IX. Leather and Parchment

A. Leather

    Used for shields, sandals, clothing, including undergarments, and 
horse trappings. It was also used occasionally as an alternative to 
papyrus as a writing surface, a function later assumed by parchment.

B. Parchment

    In the Coptic period, documents such as illuminated ritual 
manuscripts occur in single leaves or bound as a book or ``codex'' and 
are written or painted on specially prepared animal skins (cattle, 
sheep/goat, camel) known as parchment.

X. Papyrus

    Scrolls, books, manuscripts, and documents, including religious, 
ceremonial, literary, and administrative texts. Scripts include 
hieroglyphic, hieratic, Aramaic, Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Coptic, and 
Arabic.

XI. Painting and Drawing

A. Tomb Paintings

    Paintings on plaster or stone, either flat or carved in relief. 
Typical subjects include the tomb owner and family, gods, and scenes 
from daily life.

B. Domestic Wall Painting

    These are painted on mud plaster or lime plaster. Types include 
simple applied color, bands and borders, landscapes, and scenes of 
people and/or animals in natural or built settings.

C. Rock Art

    Chipped and incised drawings on natural rock surfaces, from 
prehistoric to Pharaonic periods.

D. Ostraca

    Paintings and drawings on stone chips and pottery shards.

E. Mummy Portrait Panels and Funerary Masks

    In wood, plaster, and cartonnage, often painted with the head and 
upper body of the deceased.

F. Coptic Painting

    1. Wall and ceiling paintings--On various kinds of plaster and 
which generally portray religious images and scenes of Biblical events. 
Surrounding paintings may contain animal, floral, or geometric designs, 
including borders and bands.
    2. Panel Paintings (Icons)--Smaller versions of the scenes on wall 
paintings, and may be partially covered with gold or silver, sometimes 
encrusted with semi-precious or precious stones and are usually painted 
on a wooden panel, often for inclusion in a wooden screen 
(iconastasis). May also be painted on ceramic.

XII. Mosaics

A. Floor Mosaics

    Greco-Roman, including landscapes, scenes of humans or gods, and 
activities such as hunting and fishing. There may also be vegetative, 
floral, or decorative motifs. They are made from stone cut into small 
bits (tesserae) and laid into a plaster matrix.

B. Wall and Ceiling Mosaics

    Generally portray religious images and scenes of Biblical events. 
Surrounding panels may contain animal, floral, or geometric designs. 
Similar technique to floor mosaics, but may include teserae of both 
stone and glass.

XIII. Writing

    On papyrus, wood, ivory, stone, metal, textile, clay, and ceramic, 
in hieroglyphic, hieratic, Aramaic, Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, 
Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Coptic, and Arabic scripts.

XIV. Human and Animal Remains

    Human and animal mummies.

Inapplicability of Notice and Delayed Effective Date

    This amendment involves a foreign affairs function of the United 
States and is, therefore, being made without notice or public procedure 
(5 U.S.C. 553(a)(1)). For the same reason, a delayed effective date is 
not required under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3).

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    Because no notice of proposed rulemaking is required, the 
provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) do 
not apply.

Executive Order 12866

    Because this rule involves a foreign affairs function of the United 
States, it is not subject to Executive Order 12866.

Signing Authority

    This regulation is being issued in accordance with 19 CFR 
0.1(a)(1).

List of Subjects in 19 CFR Part 12

    Cultural property, Customs duties and inspection, Imports, 
Prohibited merchandise, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

Amendment to CBP Regulations

    For the reasons set forth above, part 12 of Title 19 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations (19 CFR part 12), is amended as set forth below:

PART 12--SPECIAL CLASSES OF MERCHANDISE

0
1. The general authority citation for part 12 and the specific 
authority citation for Sec.  12.104g continue to read as follows:

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 301; 19 U.S.C. 66, 1202 (General Note 3(i), 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS)), 1624.
* * * * *
    Sections 12.104 through 12.104i also issued under 19 U.S.C. 
2612;
* * * * *

0
2. In Sec.  12.104g, paragraph (a), the table is amended by adding the 
Arab Republic of Egypt to the list in appropriate alphabetical order as 
follows:


Sec.  12.104g   Specific items or categories designated by agreements 
or emergency actions.

    (a) * * *

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              State party                           Cultural property                      Decision No.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
Egypt.................................  Archaeological material representing      CBP Dec. 16-23.
                                         Egypt's cultural heritage from
                                         Predynastic period (5,200 B.C.) through
                                         1517 A.D.
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
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[[Page 87810]]

* * * * *

R. Gil Kerlikowske,
Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
    Approved: December 1, 2016.
Timothy E. Skud,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.
[FR Doc. 2016-29191 Filed 12-5-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9111-14-P