There about fifty five cooperatives of amber artisans. Most of the finished amber products are sold in San Cristóbal de las Casas, but pieces have been exported to the United States and Europe.[1] A challenge faced by artisans and vendors in the main market is tourists, who often cannot tell the real material from plastic or glass, and will buy the cheaper item, even if it is not authentic.[2] In 2000 the federal government granted the amber of the state a denomiación de origen to combat pirated versions of Chiapas amber products.