Law, crime and regulation

A report out today (March 14) calls for "significant structural changes" to the laws governing the sale of ivory in the UK but trade bodies have queried its methodology, citing low response rates.

A Lancashire art and antiques dealership is appealing for help to track down a stolen antique Russian drinking vessel.

Some small businesses have been given a reprieve in the Budget today from the planned hike in business rates.

Egypt’s former antiquities minister Mamdouh al-Damaty has called for a change of policy relating to Egyptian artefacts traded abroad.

A police ordeal for a Derbyshire antiques dealer following a “draconian” swoop over a Victorian ivory thermometer has finally been resolved.

The chief executive of BADA, Marco Forgione, has lobbied Mayor of London Sadiq Khan on imminent hikes to business rates and changes to tax reporting that are set to impact the trade.

The ninth annual LAPADA Conference opened yesterday with a sobering reminder to dealers that they could fall victim to cybercrime.

British banks have warned UK dealers and auctioneers trading in Persian works of art that their accounts could be closed amid US sanctions against Iran.

A new art advisory group has been formed to help ease the pitfalls of buying and selling art and antiques.

The UK government has passed the third reading of the Cultural Property (Armed Conflicts) Bill, opposing amendments called for by the art and antiques trade.

Thousands of privately-owned works have become easier to access than ever before on a website launched by the Open Inheritance Art project.

Police are appealing for information after a painting by British artist Mary Potter was stolen at a recent fair in London.

A group of historians, museums and TV presenters including Alan Titchmarsh and David Starkey have condemned the slaughter of elephants but have argued the case for the defence of the antiques trade.

A pensioner thief has been sentenced to eight months' imprisonment after a series of art thefts.

Shop owners in London and the south of England are facing a significant increase in business rates when bills arrive in April.

The debate over the trade in antiques containing ivory reached Radio 4 last week. BBC Radio 4's daily consumer programme 'You & Yours' featured a slot on the topic with both wildlife charities and the antiques trade represented.

The antiquarian book trade has suffered one of its biggest-ever thefts after an audacious robbery in west London.

An oil painting by Parmigianino has been barred from export in the hope £24.5m can be raised to keep it in the UK.