diff --git a/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/app/itemimport/ItemImport.java b/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/app/itemimport/ItemImport.java
index 7d3782c7de..49e9044275 100644
--- a/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/app/itemimport/ItemImport.java
+++ b/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/app/itemimport/ItemImport.java
@@ -1129,18 +1129,6 @@ public class ItemImport
             qualifier = null;
         }
 
-        // if language isn't set, use the system's default value
-        if (StringUtils.isEmpty(language))
-        {
-            language = ConfigurationManager.getProperty("default.language");
-        }
-
-        // a goofy default, but there it is
-        if (language == null)
-        {
-            language = "en";
-        }
-
         if (!isTest)
         {
             i.addMetadata(schema, element, qualifier, language, value);