[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 222 (Monday, November 22, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 66164-66169]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-25384]



[[Page 66164]]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

19 CFR Part 12

[CBP Dec. 21-16]
RIN 1515-AE68


Extension and Amendment of Import Restrictions Imposed on 
Archaeological and Ethnological Material of Greece

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

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This final rule amends the U.S. Customs and Border Protection 
(CBP) Regulations to reflect an extension and amendment of import 
restrictions on certain archaeological and ecclesiastical ethnological 
material of the Hellenic Republic (Greece). The restrictions, which 
were originally imposed by CBP Dec. 11-25 and last extended in CBP Dec. 
16-21, are due to expire on November 21, 2021. The Acting Assistant 
Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, United States 
Department of State, has made the requisite determinations for 
extending the import restrictions that previously existed, and the 
Government of the United States and the Government of Greece entered 
into a new agreement to reflect the extension of these import 
restrictions. The new agreement, which enters into force on November 
21, 2021, supersedes the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) 
that became effective on November 21, 2016, and enabled the 
promulgation of the existing import restrictions. Accordingly, the 
import restrictions will remain in effect for an additional five years, 
and the CBP regulations are being amended to reflect this extension 
until November 21, 2026. To fulfill the terms of the new MOU, the 
Designated List of cultural property, which was described in CBP Dec. 
11-25, is amended in this document to correct certain typographical 
errors, to add certain coins from the Byzantine and Medieval periods, 
to clarify pottery styles, and to include post-Byzantine ethnological 
material dating up to A.D. 1830.

DATES: Effective November 21, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For legal aspects, W. Richmond 
Beevers, Chief, Cargo Security, Carriers and Restricted Merchandise 
Branch, Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade, (202) 325-0084, [email protected]. For operational aspects, Julie L. 
Stoeber, Chief, 1USG Branch, Trade Policy and Programs, Office of 
Trade, (202) 945-7064, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Pursuant to the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act, 
Public Law 97-446, 19 U.S.C. 2601 et seq. (hereinafter, ``the Cultural 
Property Implementation Act''), which implements 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 
(hereinafter, ``the Convention'' (823 U.N.T.S. 231 (1972)), the United 
States entered into a bilateral agreement with Greece on November 21, 
2011. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) enabled the promulgation of 
import restrictions on archaeological material representing Greece's 
cultural heritage from the Upper Paleolithic (beginning approximately 
20,000 B.C.) through the 15th century A.D., and ecclesiastical 
ethnological material representing Greece's Byzantine cultural heritage 
(approximately the 4th century through the 15th century A.D.).
    On December 1, 2011, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 
published CBP Dec. 11-25, in the Federal Register (76 FR 74691), which 
amended 19 CFR 12.104g(a) to indicate the imposition of these 
restrictions and included a list designating the types of 
archaeological and ecclesiastical ethnological material covered by the 
restrictions. The restrictions were subsequently extended in 2016. CBP 
published a final rule (CBP Dec. 16-21) in the Federal Register (81 FR 
84458), following the exchange of diplomatic notes, extending the 
import restrictions for a period of five years until November 21, 2021.
    Import restrictions listed at 19 CFR 12.104g(a) are effective for 
no more than five years beginning on the date on which the agreement 
enters into force with respect to the United States. This period may be 
extended for additional periods of not more than five years if it is 
determined that the factors which justified the initial agreement still 
pertain and no cause for suspension of the agreement exists. Since the 
initial notice was published on December 1, 2011, the import 
restrictions have been extended once. Following the exchange of 
diplomatic notes, CBP published a final rule (CBP Dec. 16-21) in the 
Federal Register (81 FR 84458), to extend the import restrictions for a 
period of five years to November 21, 2021.
    On August 20, 2020, the United States Department of State proposed 
in the Federal Register (85 FR 51544), to extend the MOU between the 
United States and Greece concerning the import restrictions on certain 
categories of archeological and ecclesiastical ethnological material of 
Greece. On March 21, 2021, the Acting Assistant Secretary for 
Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of State, after 
consultation with and recommendations by the Cultural Property Advisory 
Committee, determined that the cultural heritage of Greece continues to 
be in jeopardy from pillage of certain archaeological and 
ecclesiastical ethnological material, and that the import restrictions 
should be extended for an additional five years.
    Subsequently, on September 22, 2021, the Governments of the United 
States and Greece entered into a new agreement, titled ``Memorandum of 
Understanding between the Government of the United States of America 
and the Government of the Hellenic Republic Concerning the Imposition 
of Import Restrictions on Categories of Certain Archaeological and 
Ethnological Materials of the Hellenic Republic,'' which is effective 
on November 21, 2021. The new MOU supersedes the existing MOU that 
first entered into force on November 21, 2011. Pursuant to the new MOU, 
the import restrictions will remain in effect for an additional five 
years.
    Accordingly, CBP is amending 19 CFR 12.104g(a) to reflect the 
extension of the import restrictions. The restrictions are to continue 
in effect until November 21, 2026. Importation of such material of 
Greece, as described in the Designated List below, shall be restricted 
through that date unless the conditions set forth in 19 U.S.C. 2606 and 
19 CFR 12.104c are met.
    The Designated List and additional information may also be found at 
the following website address: https://eca.state.gov/cultural-heritage-center/cultural-property-advisory-committee/current-import-restrictions 
by selecting the material for ``Greece.''

Designated List of Archaeological and Ecclesiastical Ethnological 
Material of Greece

    The Designated List contained in CBP Dec. 11-25, which describes 
the types of articles to which the import restrictions apply, is 
amended to reflect the addition of certain archaeological and 
ecclesiastical ethnological material to the Designated List. To fulfill 
the terms

[[Page 66165]]

of the new MOU, the Designated List of cultural property is amended in 
this document to add certain coins from the Byzantine and Medieval 
periods, to clarify pottery styles, and to include post-Byzantine 
ethnological material dating up to A.D. 1830, as well as clarify 
certain provisions of the Designated List contained in CBP Dec. 11-25 
by making minor revisions to the language, organization, and numbering 
of the Designated List. For the reader's convenience, CBP is 
reproducing the Designated List contained in CBP Dec. 11-25 in its 
entirety, with the changes, below.
    The Designated List includes archaeological material from Greece 
ranging in date from approximately the 3rd millennium B.C. to 15th 
century A.D., and ecclesiastical ethnological material from Greece from 
the Early Christian, Byzantine, and post-Byzantine periods, including 
objects made from A.D. 324 through 1830.

Categories of Archaeological and Ethnological Ecclesiastical Material

I. Archaeological Material
    A. Stone
    B. Metal
    C. Ceramic
    D. Bone, Ivory, Wood and Other Organics
    E. Glass and Faience
    F. Textile
    G. Papyrus Documents
    H. Paintings
    I. Mosaics
II. Ecclesiastical Ethnological Material
    A. Stone
    B. Metal
    C. Ceramic
    D. Bone and Ivory Objects
    E. Wood
    F. Glass
    G. Textile
    H. Parchment and Paper
    I. Painting
    J. Mosaics

I. Archaeological Material

    The archaeological materials represent the following periods, 
styles, and cultures: Upper Paleolithic, Neolithic, Minoan, Cycladic, 
Helladic, Mycenaean, Submycenaean, Geometric, Orientalizing, Archaic, 
Classical, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and Medieval.

A. Stone

    1. Sculpture
    a. Architectural Elements--In marble, limestone, gypsum, and other 
kinds of stone. Types include acroteria, antefixes, architrave, base, 
basin, capital, caryatid, coffer, column, crowning, fountain, frieze, 
pediment, pilaster, mask, metope, mosaic and inlay, jamb, tile, 
triglyph, tympanum, wellhead, revetment, cut stone paving, tiles. 
Approximate date: 3rd millennium B.C. to 15th century A.D.
    b. Monuments--In marble, limestone, and other kinds of stone. Types 
include menhir, ``horns of consecration,'' votive statues, funerary and 
votive stelae, and bases and base revetments, and columnar grave 
monuments. These may be painted, carved with relief sculpture, and/or 
carry dedicatory or funerary inscriptions. Approximate date: 3rd 
millennium B.C. to 15th century A.D.
    c. Sarcophagi--In marble, limestone, and other kinds of stone. Some 
have figural scenes painted on them, others have figural scenes carved 
in relief, and some just have decorative moldings. Approximate date: 
3rd millennium B.C. to 15th century A.D.
    d. Large Statuary--Primarily in marble, also in limestone and 
sandstone, including fragments of statues. Subject matter includes 
human and animal figures and groups of figures in the round. Common 
types are largescale, free-standing statuary from approximately 1 m to 
2.5 m in height and life-size busts (head and shoulders of an 
individual). The style may be naturalistic, as in the Classical Period, 
highly stylized, as in the Bronze Age culture of the Cyclades, or 
somewhere in between. Approximate date: 4th millennium B.C. to 15th 
century A.D.
    e. Small Statuary and Figurines--In marble and other stone. Subject 
matter includes human and animal figures and groups of figures in the 
round. These range from approximately 10 cm to 1 m in height. The style 
may be naturalistic, as in the Classical Period, highly stylized, as in 
the Bronze Age culture of the Cyclades, or somewhere in between. 
Approximate date: 20,000 B.C. to 15th century A.D.
    f. Reliefs--In marble and other stone. Types include carved slabs 
with figural, vegetative, floral, or decorative motifs, sometimes 
inscribed, and carved relief vases. Used for architectural decoration, 
funerary, votive, or commemorative monuments. Approximate date: 3rd 
millennium B.C. to 15th century A.D.
    g. Furniture--In marble and other stone. Types include tables; 
thrones; beds; and altars, round or rectangular. Approximate date: 12th 
century B.C. to 15th century A.D.
    2. Vessels--In marble, steatite, rock crystal, and other stone. 
These may belong to conventional shapes such as bowls, cups, jars, 
jugs, and lamps, or may occur in the shape of an animal or human, or 
part of an animal or human. Approximate date: 7th millennium B.C. to 
15th century A.D.
    3. Tools and Weapons--In flint/chert, obsidian, and other hard 
stones. Chipped stone types include blades, small blades, borers, 
scrapers, sickles, cores, arrow heads, and spindle whorls. Ground stone 
types include grinders (e.g., mortars, pestles, millstones, 
whetstones), choppers, axes, hammers, and mace heads. Approximate date: 
20,000 B.C. to 15th century A.D.
    4. Seals and Beads--In marble, limestone, and various semiprecious 
stones including rock crystal, amethyst, jasper, agate, steatite, and 
carnelian. Approximate date: 6th millennium B.C. to 15th century A.D.

B. Metal

    1. Sculpture
    a. Large Statuary--Primarily in bronze, including fragments of 
statues. Subject matter includes human and animal figures and groups of 
figures in the round. Common types are large-scale, free-standing 
statuary from approximately 1 m to 2.5 m in height and life-size busts 
(head and shoulders of an individual). Approximate date: 2nd millennium 
B.C. to A.D. 324.
    b. Small Statuary and Figurines--Subject matter includes human and 
animal figures, groups of figures in the round, masks, and plaques. 
These range from approximately 10 cm to 1 m in height. Approximate 
date: 3rd millennium B.C. to A.D. 324.
    c. Inscribed or Decorated Sheet Metal--In bronze, lead, and gold. 
Engraved inscriptions, ``curse tablets,'' ``Orphic/Dionysiac tablets,'' 
and thin metal sheets with engraved or impressed designs often used as 
attachments to furniture and clothing. Approximate date: 4th millennium 
B.C. to 15th century A.D.
    2. Vessels--In bronze, gold, and silver. These may belong to 
conventional shapes such as bowls, cups, jars, jugs, strainers, 
cauldrons, and lamps, or may occur in the shape of an animal or part of 
an animal. Approximate date: 5th millennium B.C. to 15th century A.D.
    3. Personal Ornaments--In bronze, gold, and silver. Types include 
rings, beads, pendants, belts, belt buckles, earrings, diadems, 
spangles, straight and safety pins (fibulae), necklaces, mirrors, 
wreaths, cuffs, and funerary masks. Approximate date: 7th millennium 
B.C. to 15th century A.D.
    4. Tools--In copper, bronze, iron, and lead. Types include hooks, 
weights, axes, scrapers, (strigils), trowels, keys; the tools of 
craftspersons such as carpenters, masons and metal smiths; and medical 
tools such as needles, spoons, lancets, and forceps. Approximate date: 
4th millennium B.C. to 15th century A.D.
    5. Weapons and Armor--In copper, bronze, iron and lead. Types 
include

[[Page 66166]]

both launching weapons (spears and javelins) and weapons for hand-to-
hand combat (swords, daggers, etc.). Armor includes body armor, such as 
helmets, cuirasses, shin guards, and shields, and horse armor often 
decorated with elaborate engraved, embossed, or perforated designs. 
Approximate date: 6th millennium B.C. to 30 B.C.
    6. Seals and Tokens--In lead, tin, copper, bronze, silver, and 
gold. Types include rings, amulets, and seals with shank. Approximate 
date: 4th millennium B.C. to 15th century A.D.
    7. Coins--Many of the mints of the listed coins can be found in 
B.V. Head, Historia Numorum: A Manual of Greek Numismatics (London, 
1911) and C.M. Kraay, Archaic and Classical Greek Coins (London, 1976). 
Many of the Roman provincial mints in Greece are listed in A. Burnett 
et al., Roman Provincial Coinage I: From the Death of Caesar to the 
Death of Vitellius (44 BC-AD 69) (London, 1992) and id., Roman 
Provincial Coinage II: From Vespasian to Domitian (AD 69-96) (London, 
1999).
    a. Greek Bronze Coins--Struck by city-states, leagues, and kingdoms 
that operated in the territory of the modern Greek state (including the 
ancient territories of the Peloponnese, Central Greece, Thessaly, 
Epirus, Crete and those parts of the territories of ancient Macedonia, 
Thrace and the Aegean islands that lay within the boundaries of the 
modern Greek state). Approximate date: 5th century B.C. to late 1st 
century B.C.
    b. Greek Silver Coins--This category includes the small 
denomination coins of the city-states of Aegina, Athens, and Corinth, 
and the Kingdom of Macedonia under Philip II and Alexander the Great. 
Such coins weigh less than approximately 10 grams and are known as 
obols, diobols, triobols, hemidrachms, and drachms. Also included are 
all denominations of coins struck by the other city-states, leagues, 
and kingdoms that operated in the territory of the modern Greek state 
(including the ancient territories of the Peloponnese, Central Greece, 
Thessaly, Epirus, Crete, and those parts of the territories of ancient 
Macedonia, Thrace and the Aegean islands that lie within the boundaries 
of the modern Greek state). Approximate date: 6th century B.C. to late 
1st century B.C.
    c. Roman Coins Struck in Greece--In silver and bronze, struck at 
Roman and Roman provincial mints that operated in the territory of the 
modern Greek state (including the ancient territories of the 
Peloponnese, Central Greece, Thessaly, Epirus, Crete, and those parts 
of the territories of ancient Macedonia, Thrace and the Aegean islands 
that lie within the boundaries of the modern Greek state). Approximate 
date: late 2nd century B.C. to 3rd century A.D.
    d. Coins from the Byzantine and Medieval Periods --This category 
includes coin types such as those of the Byzantine and medieval 
Frankish and Venetian states that circulated primarily in Greece, 
ranging in date from approximately the 3rd century A.D. to the 15th 
century A.D.

C. Ceramic

    1. Sculpture
    a. Architectural Elements--Baked clay (terracotta) elements used to 
decorate buildings. Elements include acroteria, antefixes, painted and 
relief plaques, metopes, cornices, roof tiles, revetments, and brick. 
Approximate date: 3rd millennium B.C. to 30 B.C.
    b. Large Statuary--Subject matter includes human and animal figures 
and groups of figures in the round. Common types are large-scale, free-
standing statuary from approximately 1 m to 2.5 m in height and life-
size busts (head and shoulders of an individual). Approximate date: 3rd 
millennium B.C. to 30 B.C.
    c. Small Statuary--Subject matter is varied and includes human and 
animal figures, human body parts, groups of figures in the round, 
shrines, houses, and chariots. Includes Mycenaean and later Tanagra 
figurines. These range from approximately 10 cm to 1 m in height. 
Approximate date: 7th millennium B.C. to A.D. 324.
    d. Sarcophagi--Block- or tub-shaped chests, often painted, known as 
larnax (plural, larnakes). Approximate date: 3rd millennium B.C. to 30 
B.C.
    2. Vessels
    a. Neolithic Pottery--Handmade, often decorated with a lustrous 
burnish, decorated with appliqu[eacute] and/or incision, sometimes with 
added paint. These come in a variety of shapes from simple bowls and 
vases with three or four legs to handled scoops and large storage jars. 
Approximate date: 7th millennium B.C. to 3rd millennium B.C.
    b. Minoan, Cycladic, and Mycenaean Pottery--Handmade and wheelmade 
pottery in shapes for tableware, serving, storing, and processing, with 
lustrous burnished, matte, appliqu[eacute], incised, and painted 
decoration; includes local styles such as Kamares ware, Pictorial 
Style, and extraordinary shapes such as ``frying pans'' and ``kernoi.'' 
Approximate dates: 4th millennium B.C. to 12th century B.C.
    c. ``Submycenean'' and Pottery of the Geometric Period (including 
``sub-Geometric'')-- Handmade and wheelmade pottery that succeeds the 
styles of the Late Bronze Age and is produced in decorated and 
undecorated styles, often reflecting that of the Late Bronze Age but 
predominately using compasses for circles and linear ``geometric'' 
decoration, as well as schematic representations of humans, animals and 
birds. This category also includes Proto-Attic Black and White style 
pottery. Approximate dates: 12th century B.C. to 7th century B.C.
    d. Attic Black Glaze, Black Figure, Red Figure and White Ground 
Pottery--These are made in a specific set of shapes (e.g., amphorae, 
kraters, hydriae, oinochoi, kylikes) decorated with black painted 
figures on a clear clay ground (Black Figure), decorative elements in 
reserve with background fired black (Red Figure), and multi-colored 
figures painted on a white ground (White Ground). Approximate date: 6th 
century B.C. to 4th century B.C.
    e. Corinthian Pottery--Painted pottery made in Corinth in a 
specific range of shapes for perfume and unguents and for drinking or 
pouring liquids. The very characteristic painted and incised designs 
depict human and animal figural scenes, rows of animals, and floral 
decoration. Approximate date: 8th century B.C. to 6th century B.C.
    f. West Slope Ware--This ware is named after a type of pottery from 
the west slope of the Athenian Acropolis. It has a black-glaze with 
relief and polychrome decoration and was produced first in Athens in 
the fourth century B.C., but the style is also manufactured elsewhere, 
such as at Corinth, Macedonia and Crete down to the first century B.C. 
Approximate date: 4th century B.C. to 1st century B.C.
    g. Moldmade Bowls--These bowls with relief decoration were 
developed in Athens in the late third century B.C. and soon 
manufactured elsewhere, such as in Corinth and Argos. Patterns include 
pine-cone scales, leaves, petals, or figural scenes. They have black 
glaze, often with a metallic sheen. Approximate date: 3rd century B.C. 
to 1st century B.C.
    h. Utilitarian Ware--Includes undecorated plates, cooking pots, 
water jars (plain and incised), plain perfume jars (unguentaria), and 
transport amphorae (often with stamped handles). Approximate date: 6th 
century B.C. to A.D. 324.
    i. Byzantine Pottery--Includes undecorated plain wares, 
utilitarian, tableware, serving and storage jars, special shapes such 
as pilgrim flasks, and can be matte painted or glazed, including 
incised ``sgraffitto'' and stamped with elaborate polychrome 
decorations using floral, geometric, human, and animal motifs; it is 
generally locally manufactured, though

[[Page 66167]]

places like Corinth were major producers. Approximate date: 324 A.D. to 
15th century A.D.
    3. Inscriptions--These are typically unbaked and should be handled 
with extreme care, even when hard-fired through accidental burning. 
They typically take the form of tablets shaped like leaves of 
rectangular or square shape and they are often lined, with incised, and 
sometimes stamped, characters known as ``Linear A'' and ``Linear B.'' 
Approximate date: 2nd millennium B.C. to 12th century B.C.
    4. Lamps--Can be handmade, wheelmade, or moldmade. Shapes include 
open with a pinched nozzle, partially enclosed with a rim, or covered 
with a decorated disc. Athens and Corinth were major producers. 
Approximate date: 7th century B.C. to A.D. 324.
    5. Loom Weights--Shapes include conical, pyramidal, disc or rings. 
Can be stamped, incised, or glazed. Approximate date: 7th millennium 
B.C. to 15th century A.D.

D. Bone, Ivory, Wood and Other Organics

    1. Small Statuary and Figurines--Subject matter includes human and 
animal figures and groups of figures in the round. These range from 
approximately 10 cm to 1 m in height. Approximate date: 7th millennium 
B.C. to 15th century A.D.
    2. Personal Ornaments--In bone, ivory, and spondylus shell. Types 
include amulets, combs, pins, spoons, small containers, bracelets, 
buckles, and beads. Approximate date: 7th millennium B.C. to 15th 
century A.D.
    3. Seals and Stamps--Small devices with at least one side engraved 
with a design for stamping or sealing; they can be discoid, cuboid, 
conoid, or in the shape of animals or fantastic creatures (e.g., a 
scarab). Approximate date: 7th millennium B.C. to 2nd millennium B.C.
    4. Musical Instruments--In bone, ivory and tortoise shell. Types 
include pipe and flute. Approximate date: 3rd millennium B.C. to 15th 
century A.D.
    5. Ostrich Egg Vessels--Often decorated with an incised scene 
(e.g., geometric, animal, human, etc.). Approximate date: 3rd 
millennium B.C. to 2nd millennium B.C.
    6. Furniture--Bone and ivory furniture inlays and veneers. 
Approximate date: 2nd millennium B.C. to 15th century A.D.

E. Glass and Faience

    1. Vessels--Shapes include small jars, bowls, animal shaped, 
goblet, spherical, candle holders, perfume jars (unguentaria). 
Approximate date: 2nd millennium B.C. to 15th century A.D.
    2. Beads--Globular and relief beads. Approximate date: beginning in 
2nd millennium B.C.
    3. Small Statuary--Includes human and animal figures in the round, 
scarabs, and other imitations of eastern themes. These range from 
approximately 3 to 20 cm in height. Approximate date: 2nd millennium to 
7th century B.C.

F. Textiles

    Clothing or fragments of clothing or carpets or cloth for hanging. 
Approximate date: 1100 B.C. to 15th century A.D.

G. Papyrus Documents

    Documents made from papyrus and written upon in ink; these are 
often rolled, fragmentary, and should be handled with extreme care. 
Approximately 7th century B.C. to A.D. 324.

H. Paintings

    1. Domestic and Public Wall Painting--These are painted on 
mudplaster, lime plaster (wet--buon fresco--and dry--secco fresco); 
types include simple applied color, bands and borders, landscapes, 
scenes of people and/or animals in natural or built settings. 
Approximate date: 3rd millennium B.C. to A.D. 324.
    2. Tomb Paintings--Paintings on plaster or stone, sometimes 
geometric or floral but usually depicting gods, goddesses, or funerary 
scenes. Approximate date: 2nd millennium B.C. to A.D. 500.
    3. Panel Paintings on wood depicting gods, goddesses, or funerary 
scenes. Approximate date: 1st millennium B.C. to A.D. 324.

I. Mosaics

    Floor mosaics including landscapes, scenes of humans or gods, and 
activities such as hunting and fishing. They are made from stone, tile, 
or glass cut into small bits (tesserae) and laid into a plaster matrix. 
There may also be vegetative, floral, or decorative motifs. Approximate 
date: 5th century B.C. to A.D. 500.

II. Ecclesiastical Ethnological Material

    The ecclesiastical ethnological materials represent the Early 
Christian and Byzantine, and post-Byzantine periods and include objects 
made from A.D. 324 through 1830.

A. Stone

    1. Architectural Elements--In marble and other stone, including 
upright ``closure'' slabs, circular marking slabs omphalion, which may 
be decorated with crosses, human, or animal figures.
    2. Monuments--In marble and other stone; types such as funerary 
inscriptions.
    3. Vessels--Containers for holy water.
    4. Reliefs--In marble and other stone, used for architectural 
decoration. May be carved as icons in which religious figures 
predominate in the figural decoration.
    5. Furniture--In marble and other stone. Types include thrones and 
altars.

B. Metal

    1. Reliefs--Cast as icons in which religious figures predominate in 
the figural decoration.
    2. Boxes--Containers of gold and silver, used as reliquaries for 
sacred human remains. Carved and engraved decoration includes religious 
figures, scenes from the Bible, floral and geometric designs.
    3. Vessels--Containers of lead, which carried aromatic oils and are 
called ``pilgrim flasks.''
    4. Ceremonial paraphernalia--In bronze, silver, and gold including 
asterisks, censers (incense burners), communion chalices and disks, 
book covers, lances, liturgical items like ciborium (artophorion), book 
covers, benediction or processional crosses, bishop's crowns, buckles, 
and chests. These are often decorated with molded or incised geometric 
motifs or scenes from the Bible, inscriptions in Greek, and encrusted 
with semi-precious or precious stones. The gems themselves may be 
engraved with religious figures or inscriptions. Ecclesiastical 
treasure may include all of the above, as well as rings, earrings, and 
necklaces (some decorated with ecclesiastical themes) and other 
implements (e.g., spoons).

C. Ceramic

    Vessels which carried aromatic oils and are called ``pilgrim 
flasks.''

D. Bone and Ivory Objects

    Ceremonial paraphernalia including boxes, reliquaries (and their 
contents), plaques, pendants, candelabra, stamp rings, crosses. Carved 
and engraved decoration includes religious figures, scenes from the 
Bible, and floral and geometric designs.

E. Wood

    Wooden objects include architectural elements such as painted wood 
screens (iconostasis) and lypira; carved doors, crosses, painted wooden 
beams from churches or monasteries, and monastery seals; furniture such 
as thrones, pulpit bases (proskinitaria), lecturns

[[Page 66168]]

(analogia); chests, and other objects, including musical instruments. 
Religious figures predominate in the painted and carved figural 
decoration. Ecclesiastical furniture and architectural elements may 
also be decorated with geometric or floral designs and/or inlaid with 
glass or other material.

F. Glass

    Vessels of glass include lamps, candle sticks, and other ritual 
vessels.

G. Textile

    Ecclesiastical garments and other ritual textiles, including robes, 
vestments (sakkos, phelonion, omophorion, epitrachelion, epigonation), 
and altar clothes. They are often of a fine fabric and richly 
embroidered in silver and gold. Embroidered designs include religious 
motifs and figures, floral, and geometric designs.

H. Parchment and Paper

    Documents such as illuminated manuscripts occur in single leaves or 
bound as a book or ``codex'' and are written or painted on animal skins 
(cattle, sheep/goat, camel) known as parchment. Illuminated 
manuscripts, printed books used for religious/ritual purposes, and 
icons may also be printed on paper in the post-Byzantine period.

I. Paintings

    1. Wall 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).

J. Mosaics

    Wall mosaics generally portray religious images and scenes of 
Biblical events. Surrounding panels may contain animal, floral, or 
geometric designs. They are made from stone and glass cut into small 
bits (tesserae) and laid into a plaster matrix.

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; see 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

    CBP has determined that this document is not a regulation or rule 
subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12866 because it pertains 
to a foreign affairs function of the United States, as described above, 
and therefore is specifically exempted by section 3(d)(2) of Executive 
Order 12866.

Signing Authority

    This regulation is being issued in accordance with 19 CFR 0.1(a)(1) 
pertaining to the Secretary of the Treasury's authority (or that of 
his/her delegate) to approve regulations related to customs revenue 
functions.
    Troy A. Miller, Acting Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection, having reviewed and approved this document, is delegating 
the authority to electronically sign this document to Robert F. Altneu, 
who is the Director of the Regulations and Disclosure Law Division for 
CBP, for purposes of publication in the Federal Register.

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, the table in paragraph (a) is amended by revising 
the entry for Greece (Hellenic Republic) to read as follows:


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

    (a) * * *

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 State party                        Cultural property                    Decision No.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
Greece (Hellenic Republic)..................  Archeological materials        CBP Dec. 21-16.
                                               representing Greece's
                                               cultural heritage ranging in
                                               date from approximately 3rd
                                               millennium B.C. to 15th
                                               century A.D., and
                                               ecclesiastical ethnological
                                               material from Greece from
                                               the early Christian,
                                               Byzantine, and post-
                                               Byzantine periods, including
                                               objects made from A.D. 324
                                               through 1830.
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

[[Page 66169]]


Robert F. Altneu,
Director, Regulations & Disclosure Law Division, Regulations & Rulings, 
Office of Trade U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
    Approved: November 17, 2021.
Timothy E. Skud,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.
[FR Doc. 2021-25384 Filed 11-19-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-14-P