Greece introduces new law to tackle art forgery

Greece introduced a new law aimed specifically at art forgery—bill No. 5271/2026, introduced in January—shifting from reliance on general anti-forgery statutes to measures targeting the “manufacture and circulation” of counterfeit art and collectibles. The legislation proposes an independent Department of Works of Art within the culture ministry, a registry of expert art appraisers, and provisions to prevent damage to artworks and protect “cinemas of historical importance.” Penalties include at least six months’ imprisonment and a minimum €5,000 fine, rising to up to ten years in prison and fines of €10,000 to €300,000 for serious cases, and it allows for destruction of works identified as counterfeit. The law follows high-profile incidents including 2025 arrests of 13 people in an Athens forgery-and-antiquities trafficking ring and a 2024 seizure of more than 120 fake works attributed to Greek Modern painters such as Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghikas and Alekos Fassianos.

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