Mongolia Laws pretaining to the Collection, Import, Export and Sale of Fossil Material

Synopsis; Mongolia has a long history of Paleontological exporation, begining in the early 20th centry. There were no institutions of learning in the country at the time, and all fossil finds were removed to other countries. The first cultural laws were part of ther

After the 1970 UNESCO convention, which Mongolia ratified on March 10, 1991 1, items of paleontological interest were defined as cultural objects. Members of the convetion, of which the united states accepted February 9, 1983, agree to the sections of Article 2 of the convention:

"1. The States Parties to this Convention recognize that the illicit import, export and transfer of ownership of cultural property is one of the main causes of the impoverishment of the cultural heritage of the countries of origin of such property and that international co-operation constitutes one of the most efficient means of protecting each country's cultural property against all the dangers resulting therefrom."

"2. To this end, the States Parties undertake to oppose such practices with the means at their disposal, and particularly by removing their causes, putting a stop to current practices, and by helping to make the necessary reparations."

Notes:
1. Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. Paris, 14 November 1970, Unesco Legal Instuments visited 23 September 2014