Artifacts and cave formations can have significant cultural value, and may be legally protected.
What is the policy?
Listings for artifacts, fossils and relics must:
- Follow all government regulations
- Be authentic and listed in the appropriate category
- Empress of Ireland artifacts can only be sold and shipped within Canada
- The sale and export of any objects which are culturally significant to Canada (including items from First Nations and the military, art, scientific or technological objects, texts, graphics, maps, photographs, sound recordings and musical instruments) are subject to regulation under the Canadian Cultural Property Export and Import Act. Items falling within one of the category of objects noted in the Canadian Cultural Property Export Control List - opens in new window or tab established under the authority of the Canadian Cultural Property Export and Import Act may require a cultural property export permit prior to their removal from Canada
Listing for First Nation Items:
- First Nations human remains, gravesite-related items, and burial items can’t be sold on eBay. Native American masks and prayer sticks from all Southwestern tribes also can’t be sold on eBay. This includes Native Hawaiian human remains, gravesite-related items and burial items. Please note, there are certain First Nations artifacts, currently in a reserve, which can’t be bought or sold without ministerial approval
Looted or stolen goods can't be sold on eBay. See the INTERPOL Stolen Works of Art Database - opens in new window or tab as well as the International Council of Museums Red Lists Database - opens in new window or tab, which identifies categories of cultural goods most vulnerable to illicit traffic.
Additional information
- For more information on illicit traffic of cultural heritage items, please visit the UNESCO Database of National Cultural Heritage Laws - opens in new window or tab
- As part of the fight against the traffic of stolen works of art, INTERPOL encourages not only police, but also art and antiques dealers, owners of works of art and the general public to play an active role in the exchange of information about stolen works of art
- INTERPOL ID-Art mobile app - opens in new window or tab enables users to identify stolen cultural property and to get mobile access to the INTERPOL Stolen Works of Art Database - opens in new window or tab
- You can find more information and resources on the Cultural Heritage Crime section of the INTERPOL website - opens in new window or tab
Activity on eBay is required to follow this policy, the eBay User Agreement and all applicable laws, as well as respect the rights of third parties. If it doesn’t, eBay may take action consistent with applicable laws and the eBay User Agreement, and may even be legally required to do so. Such actions may include, as an example only: Removing the listing or other content, issuing a warning, restricting activity or account suspension.
Why does eBay have this policy?
This policy helps protect items of significant cultural value and ensures that important government regulations are followed.