The Hallmarking (International Convention) (Amendment) Order 2011

Statutory Instruments

2011 No. 3039

Hallmark

The Hallmarking (International Convention) (Amendment) Order 2011

Made

19th December 2011

Coming into force

15th January 2012

The Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 2(1)(c), 2(3) and 21 of the Hallmarking Act 1973(1), makes the following Order:

1.  This Order may be cited as the Hallmarking (International Convention) (Amendment) Order 2011 and comes into force on 15th January 2012.

2.  The Hallmarking (International Convention) Order 2002(2) is amended as follows.

3.  For article 3(a)(i) to (iii) substitute—

“(i) in the case of gold, 999, 916, 750, 585 or 375;

(ii) in the case of silver, 999, 925, 830 or 800;

(iii) in the case of platinum, 999, 950, 900 or 850; and

(iv) in the case of palladium, 999, 950 and 500.”.

4.  For article 6(2) substitute—

“(2) Article 5 shall apply as if a new sub-paragraph were added after paragraph 2(e) substituting in section 4(3)(b)(ii) of the Act “550” for “650”.”

5.  In Part 1 of Schedule 1 at the end insert—

“For palladium articles

”

6.  In Part II of Schedule 1 at the end insert—

“For palladium articles of the standard of fineness 999

”

7.—(1) Schedule 2 is amended as follows.

(2) After the entry for Austria insert—

“CYPRUS
For all standards of fineness recognised by the Convention
Gold	Silver
	”

(3) After the entry for Finland insert—

“HUNGARY

For all standards of fineness recognised by the Convention

”

(4) After the entry for Ireland insert—

“ISRAEL
Gold
1. For the standard of fineness 375
2. For the standard of fineness 585
3. For the standard of fineness 750
4. For the standard of fineness 875
5. For the standard of fineness 916
6. For the standard of fineness 999
Silver
1. For the standard of fineness 800
2. For the standard of fineness 835
3. For the standard of fineness 925
4. For the standard of fineness 999
LATVIA
For all standards of fineness recognised by the Convention
Gold	Silver	Platimum	Palladium
LITHUANIA
A. OFFICIAL LITHUANIAN CONTROL MARKS
1. Articles of precious metals
Gold	Silver	Platinum	Palladium
B. DISTINCTIVE MARKS OF THE AUTHORISED LITHUANIAN ASSAY OFFICES
The distinctive mark of each office is to be found on all Official Lithuanian Control Marks at the top left upper corner on the illustrations above.
Office		Distinctive Mark
Druskinikai Central Office		D
Klaipéda Branch		L
Kaunas Branch		K
Šiauliai Branch		S
Vilnius Branch		V”

(5) For the entry for the Netherlands substitute—

“For all standards of fineness recognised by the Convention

Joure Assay Office

Gouda Assay Office

”

(6) After the entry for Norway insert—

“POLAND
A. OFFICIAL POLISH CONTROL MARK
B. DISTINCTIVE MARKS OF THE AUTHORISED POLISH ASSAY OFFICES
The distinctive mark of each office is to be found on all Official Polish Control Marks at the place marked with a cross in the illustration above.
Assay Office placed under the Regional Assay Office, Cracow	Mark
Chorzów	H
Częstochowa	Z
Cracow	K
Poznań	P
Wrocław	V
Assay office placed under the Regional Assay Office, Warsaw	Mark
Białymstok	A
Bydgoszcz	B
Gdańsk	G
Łódź	Ł
Warsaw	W”

(7) In the entry for Portugal—

(a) in the entry for platinum for ‘950’ substitute “For all standards of fineness recognised by the Convention”.

(b) after the final entry in respect of gold insert—

“Gold
For the standards of fineness 999 and 916
Lisbon Assay Office	Oporto Assay Office
Silver”

(c) after the final entry in respect of silver insert—

“For the standards of fineness 999 and 925
Lisbon Assay Office	Oporto Assay Office
For the standards of fineness 830 and 800
Lisbon Assay Office	Oporto Assay Office
	”

(d) for the entry in respect of platinum substitute—

“Platinum
For all standards of fineness recognised under the Convention
Lisbon Assay Office	Oporto Assay Office
	”

(8) After the entry for Portugal insert—

“SLOVAK REPUBLIC
A. OFFICIAL SLOVAKIAN CONTROL MARKS
B. DISTINCTIVE MARKS OF THE AUTHORISED SLOVAKIAN ASSAY OFFICES
The distinctive mark of each office is to be found on all Official Swiss Control Marks at the place marked with a cross on the illustration above.
Office	Mark
Bratislava	B
Levice	L
Kosice	K
Trencin	T
SLOVENIA
Gold
For all standards of fineness recognised by the Convention
Ljubljana Assay Office	Celje Assay Office
Silver
Ljubljana Assay Office	Celje Assay Office
Platinum
Ljubljana Assay Office	Celje Assay Office
Palladium
Ljubljana Assay Office	Celje Assay Office
	”

(9) After the entry for Switzerland insert—

“For all standards of fineness recognised by the Convention
DISTINCTIVE MARKS OF THE AUTHORISED SWISS ASSAY OFFICES
The distinctive mark of each office is to be found on all Official Swiss Control Marks at the place marked with a cross on the illustration above.
Assay Office	Mark
Berne (Head Office)	B
Le Noirmont	J
Chiasso	T
Genève-aéroport	G
Zürich-aéroport	Z”

David Willetts

Minister of State for Universities and Science

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

19th December 2011

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends the Hallmarking (International Convention) Order 2002 (“the 2002 Order”).

Article 3 amends article 3 of the 2002 Order to provide for the correct standards of fineness to be applied to palladium items and updates the lists in respect of other precious metals. Article 4 makes amendments to article 6 of the 2002 Order which are consequential on the amendments made by article 3 of this Order. Article 5 adds in the shield to be used for palladium articles and article 6 adds an illustration of the Common Control Mark for a palladium article. The remainder of the order amends Schedule 2 to bring up to date the list of foreign assay office marks.

This Order was notified in draft to the European Commission in accordance with Directive 98/34/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 22 June 1998 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations (OJ No L204, 21.7.98, p 37) as amended by Directive 98/48/EC (OJ No L217, 5.8.98, p 18).

A full impact assessment of the effect that this Order will have on the costs of business is available from the National Measurement Office and is available alongside the instrument at www.legislation.gov.uk. Copies have been placed in the libraries of both Houses of Parliament.

(1)

1973 c.43.

(2)

SI 2002/506.