Calls to regulate cultural relic authentication heeded

Beijing (CNS) -- China is establishing a managed system of domestic cultural relic authentication, declared Li Yaoshen spokesman for the state cultural relic authority, responding on Wednesday to the fierce public outcry against counterfeits that were identified as genuine by supposed experts.

The current problems afflicting the validation of relics range from the absence of a set of official authentication standards and a monitoring method, the lack of which encourages immoral vetters to let fake items pass. The defects have aroused public anger recently about two "priceless" counterfeits – a "jade suit sewn with gold thread," and a "jade chair from the Han Dynasty (206BC–220AD)."

Official efforts will be directed to establishing a qualification system, making moral restrictions on experts explicit, establishing intra-governmental collaboration, promulgating cultural relic evaluation rules, and limiting TV programs themed on cultural relic evaluation.

Cultural relic auctions are another development associated with the booming market that need official guidance, Li added.