Section 3: Establishment in France of persons authorised to conduct voluntary sales of movable property by public auction in another Member State of the European Union or party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area

The file referred to in article R. 321-66 comprises the following parts: 1° A copy of the documents proving the identity, nationality and domicile of the applicant; 2° Certified copies of the attestations of skills, training qualifications or equivalent training qualifications or documents proving the acquired rights obtained by the applicant giving access to the activity of voluntary sales of furniture by public auction; 3° For holders of a diploma,…

The decision of the conseil des maisons de vente provided for in Article R. 321-66 shall include in particular the following information: 1° The level of professional qualification required in France and the level of professional qualification held by the applicant in accordance with the classification set out in Article 11 of Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 as amended on the…

The conseil des maisons de vente shall organise the aptitude test provided for in Article R. 321-67 within a maximum period of six months from the decision imposing an aptitude test on the applicant.

The council of auction houses shall ensure sufficient publicity, at least four months in advance, of the date set for the test, in particular by insertions in professional journals, by posting in its premises and in those of the Chambre nationale des commissaires-priseurs judiciaires and by publication on its website.

Individual invitations stating the day, time and place of the test are sent to each candidate at least fifteen days in advance by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt or by any other equivalent means.

The aptitude test, the programme for which is set out in Annex 3-5 to this book, comprises a maximum of three interviews, each lasting twenty minutes, dealing respectively with legal matters, the practice of voluntary sales of furniture by public auction and professional regulations.

Interviews are held in public. Each interview is marked out of 20 and is preceded by thirty minutes of preparation. The Conseil des Maisons de Vente acts as secretary to the jury.

Admission is granted by the selection board if the average of the marks obtained by the candidate is equal to or higher than 10 out of 20. At the end of the test, the selection board will draw up a list of candidates who have been admitted, which will be displayed on the premises of the Conseil des Maisons de Vente and made available on its website. The Council issues…

The adaptation course provided for in article R. 321-67 aimed at completing the applicant’s professional training includes practical instruction and, where appropriate, theoretical instruction in artistic, economic, accounting and legal matters, provided under the supervision of the Conseil des Maisons de Vente and in accordance with the procedures it determines. The adaptation period is full-time and takes place in France. Exceptionally, it may be split into monthly periods. The adaptation…

The professional practice work is carried out at a voluntary public auction sales company. The Conseil des Maisons de Vente will assign the trainee, taking into account the trainee’s choices. Under no circumstances may trainees be assigned to a voluntary sales company in which they have a direct or indirect financial interest or a link of any kind whatsoever with one of the managers, employees or partners.