Hi, everyone!

One of my Belgian colleagues has alerted me to this issue.

The German government is preparing to pass a new law, early in 2016, that would prohibit exchanges of natural and cultural objects, including mollusks.  It could have serious implications for the exchanging of specimens between institutions and individual specialists; it would also be a real handicap to trading shells.  Stamp collectors would also be prevented from exchanging stamps.

At present, this will be only for Germany, but there is a strong possibility that other European countries may follow suit.  A petition has been prepared by German researchers which presently has over 35,000 names.  Some of you may already be aware of this issue, but I am sending the cover letter and website address for anyone who may be interested in learning more about this potential problem and want to sign the petition.

Regards, 
Ron Noseworthy


Dear WTKG-members abroad,

 In the beginning of 2016 the German government is planning to pass a new cultural goods protection bill which is seriously threatening private collection of fossils and other natural and cultural goods as minerals, stamps and coins. This law is not only effecting private collectors but also professional researchers and museums who for an important part depend on collecting by non-professionals. 

 Please go to the following site for more information and a link to an online petition against this law, which still has to pass through several parts of the German politics. Versions of the text in other languages than German can be found when scrolling down the page. 

 Please send this message or link to as many colleagues as possible to try to stop these plans.
 
http://www.steinkern.de/news-updates/1132-internationaler-aufruf-fuer-den-erhalt-des-privaten-sammelns.html

 With kind regards

 
Ronald Pouwer

Secretary of the Werkgroep voor Tertiaire en Kwartaire Geologie

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