Artifacts and cave formations policy

You can list and sell artifacts, fossils, relics, and cave formations on Ventio only if your listings comply with all applicable Cyprus and EU laws governing cultural heritage and geological specimens. This policy provides guidance on how to properly represent these items while preventing illicit trade and protecting public safety and cultural value.

What is the policy?

• Prohibited items
• Items obtained from government or protected land, archaeological sites, historical grave sites, shipwrecks, or looted or stolen goods.
• Speleothems (stalactites, stalagmites) removed from caves on protected land.
• Regulatory compliance
• All listings must comply with Cyprus’s Antiquities Law (Cap. 31)
• All listings must comply with Council Regulation (EC) No 116/2009 of 18 December 2008 on the export of cultural goods
• All listings must comply with the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and

Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property

• Authenticity and provenance
• Antiquities and relics must include clear provenance or ownership history.
• Where available, sellers should provide photos or scans of official documents showing country of origin and legal sale or transfer.
• Any evidence of authenticity or legal status mentioned in a listing must be provided to the buyer.
• Replicas
• Replicas must be clearly labeled “Replica” in both the title and description.
• Replicas must be listed under an appropriate “Reproduction” or “Fantasy” category.
• Government survey markers
• May be sold only if the seller includes a photo or scan of the document proving legal transfer of ownership from the responsible authority.

Activity on Ventio must follow this policy, the Ventio User Agreement, and all applicable Cyprus and EU laws, and must respect third-party rights. Violations may result in listing removal, warnings, account restrictions, or suspension.

Why does Ventio have this policy?

This policy helps protect items of significant cultural and geological value, ensures compliance with Cyprus and EU heritage laws, combats illicit trafficking, and supports a safe, responsible, and legally compliant marketplace for everyone.