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Authority for the protection of cultural properties lies primarily in the hands of the states, but the Ministry of the Interior has the power to prevent the export of important cultural properties, which is restricted by the Law Concerning Prevention of German Cultural Properties from Flowing Out Abroad enacted in 1955. This law requires that permission be obtained for the exportation of important works of art which have been registered in catalogues compiled by the government. At the present time, about 500articles are included in these catalogues.

The first instance of the enactment of state laws concerning the protection of cultural properties was seen in 1958 in Schleswig-Holstein. By 1982 such laws had been enacted in all of the former West German states. Preparations are being made for the enactment of laws for the protection of cultural properties in the new states of the former East Germany.

The Prussian Cultural Property Foundation (Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz ) was established under the jurisdiction of the Federal Government's Ministry of the Interior in 1957 to retain custody of and preserve the former Prussian cultural properties. Seventy percent of this foundation's budget is borne by the Federal Government and the remaining portion is borne by all of the states. In 1975, the German National Committee for the Protection of Cultural Properties (Deutsches National komitee far Denkmalschutz) was established. It is made up or experts, individuals from the press and those associated with federal, state and other governmental organizations for the protection of cultural properties, for the purpose of maintaining communication and coordination between the Federal Republic and the states. (Note) The exchange rate of a German mark is calculated at 79 yen.