LONDON, 16th October 2026 – An independently operated global programme designed to strengthen trust and transparency in the retail gold market is now underway, with BSI auditors preparing to assess dealers and wholesalers for their compliance with an industry standard.
The Gold Dealer Assurance Programme (GDAP)™, launched this week by the British Standards Institution (BSI), is designed to enable gold dealers and wholesalers to demonstrate their commitment to high standards of governance, customer protection, and responsible business practices.
GDAP™ follows the creation of the Gold Dealer Assurance Standard (GDAS)TM, published in August by the World Gold Council, and developed with support from BSI and consultation with industry. GDASTM provides a set of globally recognised best practices for gold dealers.
With GDAP now live, gold dealers and wholesalers can be independently verified by BSI against GDAS . BSI will conduct audits and verify dealers meeting GDAS. Dealers that BSI verifies as meeting all GDAP requirements may use the Assured Gold Dealer name and logo and be listed in the accompanying programme directory.
Retail investment represents approximately one quarter of annual global gold demand, yet trust is a major barrier for investors. Verification under GDAS is designed to give investors greater confidence when choosing a gold dealer and buying bullion products.
Under GDAP, BSI will assess participating gold dealers in eight core areas:
• Fairness and integrity
• Transparency
• Protection of customer assets
• Regulatory compliance
• Responsible gold sourcing
• Commercial prudence
• Operational professionalism
• Vaulted gold products and services
GDAS applies to retail gold dealers and gold wholesalers that supply retail gold bullion products, including gold bars, coins, rounds, and vaulted gold products and services. Verification under GDAP against the requirements of GDAS is voluntary and will be awarded only following successful independent assessment.
To incorporate industry perspectives, GDAS was developed through an extensive consultation process involving more than 60 participants across 16 countries, generating over 120 consultation responses from across the global gold market. Feedback has been reviewed and reflected in the framework, which is intended to evolve over time as market practices and regulatory expectations continue to develop.
Susan Taylor Martin, Chief Executive, BSI, said: “With the assurance programme now up and running, industry has clear guidance in place to ensure the highest standards are met across the retail gold market. By aligning with the Standard, dealers will be sending a clear signal that they are committed to doing business responsibly and putting customers first. We are pleased to be opening up the GDAP audit programme as a first step in giving investors greater confidence in the gold market.”
David Tait, Chief Executive Officer, World Gold Council, said: “The launch of the Gold Dealer Assurance Standard in August set out a clear framework of best practice for gold bullion dealers. With BSI’s independent audit programme now live, dealers can put that framework into action and demonstrate their commitment to meeting its requirements and improving transparency in the market. This marks important progress towards building greater trust across the retail gold industry.”
Visit the BSI programme website to find out more and download the full standard here.
