Observe · Regulate · Protect — since 2007. 19th OIMAP General Assembly: Singapore, 10–12 June 2026. Programme
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for the Art Market and Heritage
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Overview of OIMAP, online services, protection alerts, news, partners, newsletter and contact.

Updated : October 28, 2026· 4 min read

Pages in this section

Interior Drawer for Cabinet, André-Charles Boulle (c. 1690)Message from the Secretary-GeneralThe message of Dr. Philippe Aubert de Vincelles to Member States, professionals and collectors.› Portrait of a Man, Gustave Caillebotte (1880)About OIMAPWho OIMAP is, how it is organized and what it has achieved: an overview for the general public.› Leaf from a Psalter and Prayerbook: Calendar Page with Labors (recto) and Calendar Page with Peasant (verso) (c. 1524)History of OIMAP since 2007Nineteen years of history: from the signing of the treaty by twenty-three States to the 19th General Assembly in Singapore.› Side Drawer for Cabinet, André-Charles Boulle (c. 1690)The six missions of OIMAPObserve, regulate, protect, certify, train, arbitrate: the Organization's mandate in six missions.› Edge of the Woods Near L'Hermitage, Pontoise, Camille Pissarro (1879)OIMAP key figuresThe essential indicators of the art market and of the Organization's action, with their method and sources.› Towel End (c 1700s- 1800s)OIMAP NewsNews, thematic files and press review: follow the news of the Organisation and of the market.› Saint Jerome and the Lion (From the former Church of St. Peter in Erfurt), Tilman Riemenschneider (c. 1495)BIOP alertsThe BIOP alert system: report a theft or loss, view current alerts and subscribe free of charge.› Sports on a Frozen River, Aert van der Neer (ca. 1660)OIMAP CalendarThe Organisation's meetings: annual calendar, conferences and regional seminars.› Scenes of Witchcraft: Morning, Salvator Rosa (c. 1645–49)Press releasesOIMAP press releases, the press kit and the press office contact, for journalists and information relays.› Carved Lacquer Scroll Box (1736–95)The OIMAP DeskThe single entry point to register, certify, track and report: procedures, timeframes and fees.› Portrait of Machtelt Suijs, Maerten van Heemskerck (c. 1540–45)Verify a documentCheck online the authenticity of an OIMAP certificate by its number or QR code, and report a fake.› Gathering among the Members of Office Censor-General (1700s)The Collector's CharterTen good practices for acquiring, keeping and transmitting cultural property with legal certainty.› The Dance at the Court of Herod, Israhel van Meckenem (c. 1500)OIMAP PartnersInternational organizations, approved auction houses and museums that cooperate with OIMAP.› Saint Peter Repentant, Georges de La Tour (1645)NewsletterSubscribe to the OIMAP newsletter, browse past issues and manage your preferences.› Roman Ruins, Villa Pamfili, Hubert Robert (1774)Contact usContact details of the General Secretariat, the regional offices and the online contact form.› Leaf from a Lectionary with St. Luke (1057–1063)Frequently asked questionsAnswers to the most frequent questions: the Desk, certificates, the BIOP database, arbitration, training, Member States and the press.›

Welcome to OIMAP

Nini in the Garden (Nini Lopez), Auguste Renoir (1876)
Nini in the Garden (Nini Lopez), Auguste Renoir (1876)

The International Organisation for the Art and Heritage Market observes, regulates and protects. Founded in 2007 by 23 pioneering States, it now counts 67 Member States across five continents. Its headquarters are in Paris.

This home page guides you to the essentials: the presentation of the Organisation, its online services, its protection alerts, its news and its contact channels.

  • Home
  • Observe
  • Regulate
  • Protect

OIMAP in figures

67Member States
48,200Works in the BIOP database
12,847Certifications issued
8,940Officials trained
847Works returned

Source: OIMAP General Secretariat.

Sections of the home page

Offering Table (305–30 BCE)DirectorateMessage from the Secretary-General

Speeches, biography and interviews of Dr. Philippe Aubert de Vincelles.

›Corner Cabinet, René Dubois (c. 1765–1770)InstitutionAbout OIMAP

Who we are, organisation chart and activity report.

›View of the Gulf of Pozzuoli from Solfatara, Philipp Hackert (1803)HistoryHistory since 2007

The 23 founding countries, key dates and archives.

›Boy with Anchor, Winslow Homer (1873)MandateThe six missions

Observe, regulate, protect, certify, train, arbitrate.

›Still Life with Vegetables, Partridge, and a Jug, Adolphe-Félix Cals (1858)DataKey figures

Indicators of the market and of the Organisation.

›Figure from a Crèche: Standing Mountain Goat (1780–1830)InformationNews

The latest news from the Organisation.

›Temple of Athene Nike. Venus Victrix—Wingless Victory, Dimitrios Constantin (c. 1850s–60s)ProtectionBIOP alerts

Thefts, losses, suspicious works and reported fakes.

›The birth of Rama and his brothers, from Chapter 17 of the Bala Kanda (Book of Childhood) of the Adhyatma Ramayana (Rama's Journey of the Su (c. 1820–30)EventsCalendar

Events, conferences and the General Assembly.

›PressPress releases

Official announcements and press contact.

›ServicesOIMAP Desk

Online procedures, fees and case tracking.

›VerificationVerify a document

Check by OIMAP number or QR code.

›EthicsCollector's Charter

Ten good practices for buying and keeping works.

›CooperationPartners

International organisations, auction houses and museums.

›NewsletterNewsletter

Subscribe, archives and preferences.

›ContactContact

General Secretariat, offices and online form.

›

Global market segments (2024)

Painting38%
Contemporary art22%
Furniture and other18%
Sculpture14%
Tribal art8%

Global market: €67.8 billion in 2024, up 5.8%.

Cabinet Plate, W. T. Copeland & Sons (1883)
Cabinet Plate, W. T. Copeland & Sons (1883)
Bull Head Attachment (c. 700–600 BCE)
Bull Head Attachment (c. 700–600 BCE)
Bowl with Chrysanthemums, Seifū Yohei IV (1914–46)
Bowl with Chrysanthemums, Seifū Yohei IV (1914–46)

An organisation serving heritage

OIMAP is an intergovernmental organisation created by treaty in 2007. It brings together the States that want an art market that is transparent, safe and respectful of communities of origin. Its motto comes down to three verbs: observe, regulate, protect.

It addresses States, market professionals, museums, collectors and the general public. Discover its mandate and its presentation.

Six concrete missions

Observing the market through reliable data; regulating through common standards, including the seven OIMAP Directives of 2019; protecting heritage through the BIOP database; certifying works; training professionals; arbitrating disputes.

Each mission is presented on the page The six missions and detailed in a section of the site: market, regulation, protection, certification, training and arbitration.

Online services

The OIMAP Desk brings together the procedures: registration of a work, certificates of authenticity and provenance, import-export licence, sale accreditation, digital certification. Each case receives a number in the form OIMAP-AAAA-NNNNNN, which allows it to be tracked.

To check a certificate you have received, the page Verify a document allows verification by number or QR code. The procedures are presented in the OIMAP Desk.

Everyday protection

A theft or loss can be reported free of charge: the alert is processed within 24 hours and circulated to customs, police forces and accredited auction houses. A free subscription allows you to receive alerts by e-mail.

Before buying, consult the BIOP alerts and apply the ten good practices of the Collector's Charter.

Staying informed

The news, the calendar and the press releases follow the life of the Organisation. The 19th General Assembly takes place in Singapore on 10–12 June 2026.

A free newsletter summarises the essentials each month.

Quick access by profile

Guidance by profile
You areStart with
Collector or buyerCollector's Charter, BIOP alerts, document verification
Market professionalOIMAP Desk, partners, accredited auction houses
State representativePresentation, key figures, contact
JournalistPress releases, press contact
ResearcherHistory since 2007, key figures, archives
Châteauvieux-sur-Suran, Antoine-Claude Ponthus-Cinier (1848)
Châteauvieux-sur-Suran, Antoine-Claude Ponthus-Cinier (1848)
Winding Yarn (Interior of a Nantucket Kitchen), Eastman Johnson (1872)
Winding Yarn (Interior of a Nantucket Kitchen), Eastman Johnson (1872)
Portrait of a Couple (c. 1580–88)
Portrait of a Couple (c. 1580–88)

Milestones

  1. Founding treaty

    Twenty-three States create the Organisation.

  2. Desk

    Launch of online procedures.

  3. OIMAP Directives

    Seven binding directives.

  4. 67 States

    Twenty-three coordinated operations.

  5. 19th General Assembly

    Singapore, 10–12 June.

Inform or act

Relief of Apollo with Nike (27 BCE–14 CE)

Find out more

Understand the Organisation
  • Presentation and history
  • Key figures
  • News

To discover.

The Four Seasons, Kano Tan’yū (1668)

Act

Use the services
  • OIMAP Desk
  • Verify a document
  • BIOP alerts

To start a procedure.

Getting started

  1. Identify

    Your need: information, procedure or verification.

  2. Choose

    The appropriate section.

  3. Read

    The detailed page.

  4. Act

    Online, at the Desk or by contact.

  5. Track

    Your case or your subscription.

Before buying a work

A collector

View of the Château of Pierrefonds, François-Louis Français (c. 1870)
« A page that brings together alerts, verification and procedures saves us from searching for information in ten different places. »
Pierre Vasseur, collector (example)

Glossary

BIOP
Database of stolen or lost works managed by the Organisation.
OIMAP Desk
Portal for online procedures.
OIMAP number
Identifier of a case, in the form OIMAP-AAAA-NNNNNN.
OIMAP Directive
Binding standard adopted in 2019.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I report a theft?

See the BIOP alerts and the contact.

How do I verify a certificate?
How do I track a case?
How do I subscribe to the newsletter?

Useful documents

Contacts

The Pyramid of Cestius, Rome, Michiel van Overbeek (c. 1650–80)
The Pyramid of Cestius, Rome, Michiel van Overbeek (c. 1650–80)
General SecretariatParis — Headquarters+33 1 00 00 00 00secretariat@oimap.exampleMonday to Friday, 9 am – 5 pm

Discover the Organisation

Nymphs and a Satyr (Amor Vincit Omnia), Nicolas Poussin (c. 1625–27)

Mandate, history and organisation.

View the presentation
Image credits (41)
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