A recognition that must be earned

The OIMAP conformity label distinguishes galleries and dealers whose practices have been audited. It costs €1,200 per year, lasts three years and can be renewed.
It guarantees the buyer that the professional systematically provides a certificate, consults the BIOP database, declares their sales, informs their client of their rights and accepts mediation. It is a commercial asset, particularly internationally.
This page details the conditions, the audit, the benefits and the obligations of the label.
Conformity label in figures
Source: OIMAP Observatory.
Conditions for obtaining it
To obtain the label, the professional must have been registered for at least a year, have signed the code of ethics, have been the subject of no sanction in the last three years and be able to show a system for documenting their sales.
The audit covers a sample of sales files: certificates issued, BIOP checks, invoices, provenance records. It is carried out by an independent auditor and generally lasts one day.



Benefits of the label
The label gives access to a visible status in the directory, to priority handling of one's certification applications, to preferential rates for digital certificates, and to participation in fairs and sales requiring compliance.
It also eases relations with insurers and banks, which recognise the label as a guarantee of seriousness. In the 2024 survey, 83% of labelled professionals consider that the label has improved their clients' trust.
The label and the certificate
The conformity label is distinct from the certificates issued by OIMAP. Certificates relate to a work, the label to a professional. But the two complement each other: a labelled professional undertakes to provide a certificate for every significant sale.
This complementarity strengthens the chain of trust: the work is certified, the seller is audited, and the buyer has verifiable documents at every link.
What the audit covers
| Area | Check | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Documentation | Certificates and invoices | Annual |
| Provenance | Verification of sources | Annual |
| BIOP | Consultation log | Annual |
| Client information | Legal notices | Every three years |
| Mediation | Handling of disputes | Annual |
Landmarks
- Demand
Online application.
- Audit
Visit or remote audit.
- Decision
Label committee.
- Label
Handing over of the label certificate.
The label can be withdrawn
With or without a label

With label
Audited practices- Visibility
- Buyers' trust
- Cost of €1,200 per year
For an international clientele.

Without label
Simple registration- No cost
- No audit
- Less visibility
For a local activity.



Obtain the label
- Prepare
Gather the sales files.
- Submit
Online application.
- Audit
Documentary audit.
- Correct
Handle the recommendations.
- Display
Use the label.
Before applying for the label
A labelled gallery owner

« The audit forced me to put my files in order. I have no regrets: my foreign clients tell me the label reassures them. »
Vocabulary of the label
- Audit
- Independent check of practices.
- Compliance officer
- Person responsible for compliance with the code.
- Withdrawal
- End of the label by decision.
- Renewal
- Extension of the label.
Frequently asked questions
Is the label compulsory?
No.
Can it be lost?
Yes, in case of serious breach.
How long does the audit last?
Generally one day.
Where can I see the holders?
In the directory.
Useful documents
Contacts

Read the code of ethics
Image credits (16)
- Christ Driving the Money Changers from the Temple, Rembrandt van Rijn (1635) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Gathering among the Members of Office Censor-General (1700s) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Yokkaichi: View of the Mie River, from the series The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō, Utagawa Hiroshige (c. 1833–34) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Portrait of Georges Arnold Fitzwilliam, Charles Balthazar Julien Fevret de Saint-Mémin (c. 1790–1852) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Creamer, Louis Rorimer (c. 1910) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Lace Towel End (c. 1700s–1800s) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Plate: Diana and Acteon, Maestro Giorgio Andreoli (1522) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Portrait Head of a Noble or Official (175–200 CE) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Painting Enthusiasts at Auction House Bouillon, Honoré Daumier (1862, printed 1920) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Bidri Hookah Bowl with Roses (c. 1650s) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Vanity Case (Nécessaire) (c. 1760) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Small Mosque in the Kaiserbagh, Felice A. Beato (1858) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Scenes of Daily Life, Roads and Paths: Road to Market (Scènes de la vie quotidienne, Routes et Chemins: Route du Marché), Carle Vernet (1819) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Dr. James Stuart; Mary Campbell Stuart, Gilbert Stuart (c. 1815) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Solidus of Justinian I (c. 545–65) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Portrait of a Man, Nicholas Freese (c. 1795–1800) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
Cleveland Museum of Art · CC0 1.0
Galleries and dealersThe galleries and dealers labelled by OIMAP: directory, conformity label and code of ethics.›
Code of ethicsThe ten principles of ethics of the galleries and dealers registered with OIMAP.›
Conformity labelThe OIMAP label distinguishes galleries, auction houses and collectors that respect the twelve criteria of due diligence.›