Observe · Regulate · Protect — since 2007. 19th OIMAP General Assembly: Singapore, 10–12 June 2026. Programme
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Conformity label

The OIMAP conformity label: conditions, audit, cost of €1,200 per year, benefits and obligations.

Updated : October 28, 2026· 3 min read

A recognition that must be earned

Gathering among the Members of Office Censor-General (1700s)
Gathering among the Members of Office Censor-General (1700s)

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.

  • Label
  • Audit
  • Compliance

Conformity label in figures

€1,200Annual cost
3 yearsTerm
30 daysProcessing time
1,380Holders

Source: OIMAP Observatory.

Breakdown

Label granted at the first attempt72%
After recommendations21%
Refusal7%

Outcome of audits in 2024.

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.

Yokkaichi: View of the Mie River, from the series The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō, Utagawa Hiroshige (c. 1833–34)
Yokkaichi: View of the Mie River, from the series The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō, Utagawa Hiroshige (c. 1833–34)
Portrait of Georges Arnold Fitzwilliam, Charles Balthazar Julien Fevret de Saint-Mémin (c. 1790–1852)
Portrait of Georges Arnold Fitzwilliam, Charles Balthazar Julien Fevret de Saint-Mémin (c. 1790–1852)
Creamer, Louis Rorimer (c. 1910)
Creamer, Louis Rorimer (c. 1910)

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

The five checks
AreaCheckFrequency
DocumentationCertificates and invoicesAnnual
ProvenanceVerification of sourcesAnnual
BIOPConsultation logAnnual
Client informationLegal noticesEvery three years
MediationHandling of disputesAnnual

Landmarks

  1. Demand

    Online application.

  2. Audit

    Visit or remote audit.

  3. Decision

    Label committee.

  4. Label

    Handing over of the label certificate.

The label can be withdrawn

With or without a label

Lace Towel End (c. 1700s–1800s)

With label

Audited practices
  • Visibility
  • Buyers' trust
  • Cost of €1,200 per year

For an international clientele.

Plate: Diana and Acteon, Maestro Giorgio Andreoli (1522)

Without label

Simple registration
  • No cost
  • No audit
  • Less visibility

For a local activity.

Portrait Head of a Noble or Official (175–200 CE)
Portrait Head of a Noble or Official (175–200 CE)
Painting Enthusiasts at Auction House Bouillon, Honoré Daumier (1862, printed 1920)
Painting Enthusiasts at Auction House Bouillon, Honoré Daumier (1862, printed 1920)
Bidri Hookah Bowl with Roses (c. 1650s)
Bidri Hookah Bowl with Roses (c. 1650s)

Obtain the label

  1. Prepare

    Gather the sales files.

  2. Submit

    Online application.

  3. Audit

    Documentary audit.

  4. Correct

    Handle the recommendations.

  5. Display

    Use the label.

Before applying for the label

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

Small Mosque in the Kaiserbagh, Felice A. Beato (1858)
Small Mosque in the Kaiserbagh, Felice A. Beato (1858)
OIMAP ObservatoryParis — Headquarters+33 1 00 00 01 00observatoire@oimap.exampleMonday to Friday, 9 am – 5 pm

Read the code of ethics

Portrait of a Man, Nicholas Freese (c. 1795–1800)

The ten principles of conduct.

Code of ethics
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