PAD was held on March 22-26 but the chairman of the Compagnie Nationale des Experts (CNE), Frédéric Castaing, said the vetting committee had stood down during the fair amid quality-control concerns.
He said: “We have worked with PAD for a few years. However, the time we were given to screen items this year has been dramatically reduced. Some booths could not be controlled at all.
“We decided that it is better to stop than to do something we had no control of. The problem is if you have just one hour it is not enough.”
Castaing also said the vetting committee could not be available if they were needed to re-check stands when new items were brought on to sell by dealers. He did not comment on whether there had been specific issues with exhibits.
PAD’s press spokesman said the fair could not comment on the situation.
PAD London is due to be held in Berkeley Square between October 2-8. The fair did not respond to requests by ATG about plans for the London vetting committee.
