Approved auction houses

Approval attests that an auction house applies the Organization's due diligence rules. It is neither a label of commercial quality nor a guarantee on each lot, but a commitment of method: verify, document, report.

It is issued for one year and is renewable. The Desk processes it in five working days when the file is complete, at an indicative fee of €450.

Before each sale, the house consults the BIOP database for lots presenting a risk. It keeps provenance documents, invoices and certificates for the period set by the applicable regulations.

In case of doubt, it suspends the sale of the lot, informs the consignor and alerts the Organization. The reporting of a theft or loss is handled within 24 hours.

Approved houses gain access to a professional area: easier BIOP consultation, notifications on alerts, documentation of the guidelines, invitations to Academy training.

They may also display their approval in their catalogues, according to the rules of use communicated with the decision.

The directory of approved auction houses can be consulted by anyone. It gives the name, city, specialties and validity date of the approval. A buyer or a seller can thus check in a few seconds that a house is indeed approved.

The directory is updated as soon as an approval is issued, suspended or withdrawn. If you notice a discrepancy, report it to the Organization through the contact form.

An approval may be suspended in the event of serious or repeated breach: sale of a lot flagged in the BIOP, failure to cooperate, falsified documents. The house is heard before any decision, and a means of appeal is available.

The withdrawal is published in the directory. It does not prevent the house from continuing its business, but it loses the mention of approval.