Gold Dealer

Gold Dealer Assurance Programme (GDAP)™ – building confidence in the global retail gold market

Programme Overview

What is the Gold Dealer Assurance Programme (GDAP)™?

The Gold Dealer Assurance Programme (GDAP)™ is an independent trust mark framework designed to build trust in the global retail gold market.

Sponsored by the World Gold Council and operated independently by BSI (British Standards Institution), the programme enables gold dealers and wholesalers to demonstrate:

Transparency in their operations
Professional business practices
Responsible sourcing and governance

Resources

Trust and Assurance

It is the first global assurance framework created specifically for gold dealers

Providing a consistent way to assess how organisations serve customers and manage risk.

The Programme

Why was the programme created?

Research commissioned by the World Gold Council identified two consistent barriers to wider participation in the retail gold market:

Lack of customer trust
Limited access to reliable information and education

The Gold Dealer Assurance Standard establishes clear expectations for:

Customer protection
Transparent communication
Responsible business conduct

The programme was created in consultation with industry stakeholders to establish recognised expectations for how gold dealers operate, communicate with customers and protect customer interests. The result is a programme that helps build confidence across the retail gold ecosystem - for dealers, customers, and the wider industry.

Obtaining the GDAP Trust Mark demonstrates that an organisation has been assessed against the requirements of the Gold Dealer Assurance Standard and has successfully met the programme's expectations.

The World Gold Council is responsible for maintaining the Standard. BSI independently manages the assurance programme, including assessments, Trust Mark award decisions, and the Assured Gold Dealer Directory.

Building Trust in the Gold Market: The GDAP Trust Mark

Research commissioned by the World Gold Council identified two consistent barriers to wider participation in the retail gold market: lack of customer trust and limited access to reliable information and education.

Eligibility

Who can participate?

The programme is open to retail gold dealers and gold wholesalers supplying retail investment products.

Gold Bars

Investment-grade gold of set purity and weight, valued mainly for gold content.

Gold Coins

Gold bullion coins issued by a government mint, valued mainly for gold content.

Eurocents - concept of finance and economy.

Gold Rounds

Privately minted round gold bullion, not legal tender and valued mainly by gold content.

American Gold Dollar Coins Stacked, with selective focus on office desk.

Vaulted gold Products and Services

Offerings that combine professional gold storage with transaction and record-keeping services.

Gold bars and gold pellets. Selective focus.

“By providing independent assurance against consistent standards, we believe it will help strengthen consumer confidence, support reputable dealers and raise standards across the industry”

David Tait Chief Executive Officer, World Gold Council

Why Participate?

Participation in the programme enables you to build customer confidence through independent assurance

Successfully completing an independent GDAP audit demonstrates commitment to recognised industry best practices. Gold dealers who meet all programme requirements earn the GDAP Trust Mark and are listed in the Assured Gold Dealer Directory.

Benefit

Earn the right to display the GDAP Trust Mark

Benefit

Differentiate your organisation within the global retail gold market

Benefit

Be recognised in the Assured Gold Dealer Directory

Benefit

Demonstrate your commitment to transparency and responsible business practices

Benefit

Build customer confidence through independent assurance

The Standard

The Standard and Requirements

The Gold Dealer Assurance Standard provides a comprehensive framework covering the policies, procedures and business practices expected of organisations serving the retail gold market.

Treating the customer fairly and acting with integrity.

Accordion Item Disclaimer text
Providing transparency on fees and terms.

Accordion Item Disclaimer text
Safekeeping customer assets.

Accordion Item Disclaimer text
Maintaining compliance with applicable laws, Anti-Money Laundering (AML) requirements and Know Your Customer (KYC) obligations.

Accordion Item Disclaimer text
Sourcing gold from trustworthy suppliers.

Accordion Item Disclaimer text
Managing operational, financial and business risks through effective governance and planning.

Accordion Item Disclaimer text
Conducting the business with due skill, care, and diligence.

Accordion Item Disclaimer text
Meeting requirements for professional storage or vaulted gold products.

Accordion Item Disclaimer text

The Standard

A practical framework for responsible gold dealers

The Gold Dealer Assurance Standard provides a comprehensive framework covering the policies, procedures and business practices expected of organisations serving the retail gold market. Rather than prescribing how every business should operate, the Standard establishes recognised expectations that support fairness, transparency and responsible business conduct. Independent assessment evaluates how these principles have been embedded within your organisation.

The Standard

Fairness & Integrity:

Treating the customer fairly and acting with integrity.

Download

Download the complete Standard:

The website provides an overview of the programme. The full Gold Dealer Assurance Standard contains the detailed requirements, recommendations, definitions and implementation guidance used during assessment.

Download Standard

Scope

The Standard applies to:

Gold bars, Gold coins, Gold rounds, Vaulted gold products and services. Products such as jewellery, collectibles, numismatic coins and unallocated gold products are outside the scope of the programme.

Transparency:

Providing customers with accurate product information, clear disclosures and accessible business information.

Independently Assessed

Participation in the programme is voluntary

Gold dealers that choose to participate undergo an independent assessment conducted through the BSI assurance programme. The GDAP Trust Mark demonstrates that an organisation has been assessed against the requirements of the Gold Dealer Assurance Standard and has successfully met the Programme’s expectations. The World Gold Council is responsible for maintaining the Standard. BSI independently manages the assurance programme, including assessments, and the Assured Gold Dealer Directory.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

For Gold Dealers, Customers & Investors

The Gold Dealer Assurance Standard sets out recognized best practices for retail gold dealers and wholesalers serving the retail gold market. It forms the foundation of the Gold Dealer Assurance Programme (GDAP)™.
The Standard helps build trust in the retail gold market by providing an independent framework for assessing recognized industry best practices.
The Gold Dealer Assurance Programme (GDAP)™ provides retail gold dealers and wholesalers with a pathway to independent assessment against the Gold Dealer Assurance Standard and, where the requirements are met, recognition through the Gold Dealer Assurance Trust Mark and a listing in the Assured Gold Dealer Directory.
The Standard was developed to help strengthen trust and confidence in the retail gold market. It provides a consistent framework for assessing how gold dealers operate, serve customers and manage their business responsibly.
The Standard applies to:

Gold bars

Gold coins

Gold rounds

Vaulted gold products and services

Out of scope products:

Jewellery

Collectibles

Numismatic coins

Unallocated gold products
No. Participation is entirely voluntary. Organizations choose to participate to demonstrate their commitment to recognized industry best practices.
To apply, organizations should generally:

Have been established for at least three years

Have operated continuously in the gold market for at least two years

Offer products that fall within the scope of the Standard

Full eligibility requirements are described in the Gold Dealer Assurance Standard.
Independent assessment covers eight key areas:

Fairness and Integrity

Transparency

Protection of Customer Assets

Regulatory Compliance

Responsible Gold Sourcing

Commercial Prudence

Operational Professionalism

Vaulted Gold Products and Services (where applicable)
BSI is the independent programme manager for the Gold Dealer Assurance Programme. It oversees the programme and facilitates the assignment and oversight of audits conducted by approved and qualified auditors in accordance with the programme requirements.
If an audit identifies non-conformities, the organisation will have an opportunity to address the findings before the audit is completed.
Yes. Gold dealers that successfully complete the audit and earn the GDAP Trust Mark will be listed in the public Assured Gold Dealer Directory.
A separate audit is required for each country in which an organisation wishes to qualify.
Register your interest through the Gold Dealer Assurance Programme (GDAP)™ website. When applications open, eligible organizations will be introduced to the approved Audit Service Provider to discuss the audit process, scope, fees and timelines.
The GDAP Trust Mark shows that a gold dealer has successfully completed an independent audit and met the requirements of the Gold Dealer Assurance Programme (GDAP)™.
To maintain the GDAP Trust Mark, organizations must continue to meet the programme requirements through ongoing reviews and periodic reassessments.

There will be a comprehensive audit every 3 years with document reviews in the two intervening years.
No. The Trust Mark confirms that a dealer met the programme requirements at the time of the audit. It does not guarantee future business performance, investment returns, or replace the need for customers to conduct their own due diligence.
The GDAP Trust Mark is awarded through the Gold Dealer Assurance Programme (GDAP)™ following a successful independent audit. BSI manages the programme and oversees the audit process in accordance with the programme requirements.
The programme has been designed with independent governance.

This separation helps ensure the integrity, impartiality and credibility of the programme by distinguishing the organization that develops the Standard from the organization responsible for assessing conformance against it.

The World Gold Council developed and maintains the Gold Dealer Assurance Standard, while BSI independently manages the Gold Dealer Assurance Programme (GDAP)™ and oversees the audit process.
Gold dealers that have successfully completed the assurance process and been awarded the Gold Dealer Assurance Trust Mark are listed in the public Assured Gold Dealer Directory, maintained by BSI.

We expect to launch the Assured Gold Dealer Directory in Q4 2026
The Standard considers how organizations manage areas such as:

Customer fairness

Transparency

Protection of customer assets

Responsible sourcing

Regulatory compliance

Operational governance

Risk management
The GDAP Trust Mark can be an important factor when choosing a gold dealer, but customers should always conduct their own research and consider their individual circumstances before making any purchase or investment decision.
The cost and duration of a GDAP assessment depend on the scope of your business activities. This includes factors such as the products and services you offer, whether you manage vaulted or digitized gold, and the jurisdictions in which your business operates.

Once you submit your application, the GDAP team will review the information provided and prepare a tailored proposal outlining the assessment scope, estimated duration, and associated fees.

Register interest here
The Gold Dealer Assurance Programme is open to gold dealers who sell investment-grade physical gold products to retail customers and who wish to demonstrate their commitment to recognized industry best practice. Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements of the Programme and successfully complete an independent assessment before they can be awarded the Trust Mark.
The Programme applies to retail investment gold products sold by participating dealers, including investment-grade gold bullion bars and coins.

The assessment focuses on the dealer's business practices, governance, customer experience, product integrity, responsible sourcing commitments, and operational controls rather than assessing individual gold products.

Gold dealers that offer both in- and out-of-scope products will be assessed only in relation to in-scope products.
Participating dealers complete an independent assessment against the Gold Dealer Assurance Standard.

The assessment reviews policies, procedures, business operations, customer protections, and responsible business practices. Dealers that successfully meet the requirements are awarded the Gold Dealer Assurance Trust Mark and are listed in the public Assured Gold Dealer Directory.

Maintenance of the Trust Mark for the Gold Dealer is done through ongoing surveillance and periodic reassessment to ensure continued compliance with the Standard.
An approved independent assessor reviews the dealer's documented policies, procedures, and supporting evidence against the requirements of the Gold Dealer Assurance Standard.

The assessment will include document reviews, interviews with key personnel, and verification of operational practices.

If any non-conformities are identified, the dealer will have the opportunity to address them so it might still obtain the Gold Dealer Assurance Trust Mark.
The Gold Dealer Assurance Trust Mark is maintained through an ongoing assurance process rather than a one-time assessment.

Dealers with the Trust Mark are subject to regular surveillance activities and periodic reassessment to verify they continue to meet the requirements of the Gold Dealer Assurance Standard. Dealers are also expected to maintain effective policies, procedures, and business practices that support continued compliance.

If a dealer no longer meets the requirements of the Programme, their status may be suspended or withdrawn in accordance with the Programme rules.

Maintaining the Trust Mark demonstrates an ongoing commitment to responsible business practices, customer confidence, and continuous adherence to the Gold Dealer Assurance Standard.
The World Gold Council initiated and sponsored the development of the Gold Dealer Assurance Standard in consultation with industry stakeholders. It is responsible for maintaining and periodically reviewing the Standard to ensure it continues to reflect recognized industry best practice.

The World Gold Council does not conduct assessments, certify gold dealers, make certification decisions, or manage the assurance programme. Its role is to maintain the Standard and support the ongoing development of trusted practices across the global retail gold market.
BSI is the independent Programme Manager for the Gold Dealer Assurance Programme.

As a global standards and certification organization, BSI manages the Trust Mark Programme, coordinates independent assessments, makes Programme decisions, administers the ongoing assurance programme, and maintains the public Assured Gold Dealer Directory.

BSI helps ensure the Programme is delivered consistently, impartially, and in accordance with internationally recognized assurance practices.

Register your interest

About

About the Gold Dealer Assurance Programme (GDAP)™

The Gold Dealer Assurance Programme (GDAP)™ is sponsored by the World Gold Council and operated independently by BSI.

About BSI

BSI is the independent programme manager for the Gold Dealer Assurance Programme (GDAP)™

Founded in 1901, BSI is a global standards, assurance and certification organisation that helps organisations improve quality, build trust and demonstrate compliance through internationally recognised services.

Visit bsigroup.com

About World Gold Council

The World Gold Council is the market development organisation for the gold industry

Its purpose is to stimulate and sustain demand for gold, provide industry leadership, and be the global authority on the gold market.

Visit gold.org

The Standard

Download the complete Standard

The full Gold Dealer Assurance Standard contains the detailed requirements, recommendations, definitions and implementation guidance used during assessment.

Download Standard

Ask us anything about the GDAP Programme

We are keen to answer any questions you have that may not be covered on our website. Do contact us below.