Hallmarking Act 1973
Encyclopedia
The Hallmarking Act 1973 makes up the bulk of modern law regarding the assay
ing and hallmarking
of metals in the United Kingdom
. Hallmarking is a way to guarantee the purity of precious metals. Metals are tested and, if they meet a certain minimal purity requirement, are marked with a specified seal. In the United Kingdom
(UK), this is done by the Assay Office
s in London
, Birmingham
, Sheffield
, and Edinburgh
. The Act made business transactions involving unmarked metals illegal. Trading Standards departments are responsible for enforcing the Act.
Another notable consequence of the Act was the formation of the British Hallmarking Council (BHC). This council is responsible for advising the Secretary of State in matters of Hallmarking, making certain the UK has acceptable hallmarking facilities, and overseeing the Assay Offices so they follow the legal Hallmarking standards. The council has made many important contributions concerning UK Hallmarking procedures. In 1992, the European Commission
proposed a Directive meant to cover Hallmarking. The BHC examined the document and found multiple areas of ambiguity and deficiency. When the European Parliament
voted on the Council’s recommendations, many were approved.
The Hallmarking Regulations 1998 and The Hallmarking Order 1998 caused the legitimisation of Hallmarks of other Member States (those countries that ratified the Convention on the Control of Articles of Precious Metals of 1972). The Council was responsible for clearing up ambiguous statements in the Regulations and for extending its definition to deal with other problems in the Hallmarking Law. Some of these changes include seven additional standards of fineness, a change in the standard mark, and the dropping of the date requirement on marked metals.
Assay
An assay is a procedure in molecular biology for testing or measuring the activity of a drug or biochemical in an organism or organic sample. A quantitative assay may also measure the amount of a substance in a sample. Bioassays and immunoassays are among the many varieties of specialized...
ing and hallmarking
Hallmark
A hallmark is an official mark or series of marks struck on items made of precious metals — platinum, gold, silver and in some nations, palladium...
of metals in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Hallmarking is a way to guarantee the purity of precious metals. Metals are tested and, if they meet a certain minimal purity requirement, are marked with a specified seal. In the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
(UK), this is done by the Assay Office
Assay office
Assay offices are institutions set up to assay precious metals, in order to protect consumers. Upon successful completion of an assay, Assay offices are institutions set up to assay (test the purity of) precious metals, in order to protect consumers. Upon successful completion of an assay, Assay...
s in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, and Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. The Act made business transactions involving unmarked metals illegal. Trading Standards departments are responsible for enforcing the Act.
Another notable consequence of the Act was the formation of the British Hallmarking Council (BHC). This council is responsible for advising the Secretary of State in matters of Hallmarking, making certain the UK has acceptable hallmarking facilities, and overseeing the Assay Offices so they follow the legal Hallmarking standards. The council has made many important contributions concerning UK Hallmarking procedures. In 1992, the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
proposed a Directive meant to cover Hallmarking. The BHC examined the document and found multiple areas of ambiguity and deficiency. When the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
voted on the Council’s recommendations, many were approved.
The Hallmarking Regulations 1998 and The Hallmarking Order 1998 caused the legitimisation of Hallmarks of other Member States (those countries that ratified the Convention on the Control of Articles of Precious Metals of 1972). The Council was responsible for clearing up ambiguous statements in the Regulations and for extending its definition to deal with other problems in the Hallmarking Law. Some of these changes include seven additional standards of fineness, a change in the standard mark, and the dropping of the date requirement on marked metals.