Our colleagues from ARP, the portuguese Professional Association of Conservator-Restorers have shared with us their latest news on the very important amendment to Decree-Law No. 140/2009.
Following approval by the Council of Ministers on October 9, 2024, the new version of Decree-Law 140/2009 was published today in the Official Gazette, introducing a set of important changes related to conservation and restoration interventions on movable, integrated movable and immovable heritage.
With the previous version contemplating the presence of the conservator-restorer only in the preparation of preliminary reports within the scope of conservation and restoration interventions on movable assets, as well as in the coordination of works and interventions involving this category of heritage, the new version establishes the presence of the conservator-restorer in the various phases of conservation and restoration interventions (preliminary report, execution and coordination), and in the different types of heritage (movable, integrated movable and immovable heritage). In addition to this aspect, it defines, for the first time, the qualifications that conservators-restorers must possess, following the guidelines defined by ARP, ECCO and ENCORE.
This new legislative framework is the result of several years of work by the ARP, and of a series of initiatives and negotiation processes, which since 2019 have involved multiple meetings with three government executives, two complaints to the ombudsman, a public petition and parliamentary hearings and meetings with several political parties.
It is another important step in the process of recognition of the profession, which comes on top of recent achievements, namely the introduction of the role of the Conservator-Restorer in the Individual Income Tax Codes, in 2022, and the introduction of an Economic Activity Code exclusively for Conservation and Restoration companies, which will be in force from 1 January 2025.
For the full text (in portuguese) follow the link.
Text:
November 22, 2024 by Luis Pereira, ARP