Permanent Council Decision No. 1213
Act wholly in force at 1. 1. 1975 see s. 24(2) The text of s. 23 and Sch. 7 is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991. The text of s. 23 and Sch. 7 is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991. Words in s. 1(1)(a) substituted (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 2 S. 1(4) repealed (26.5.2008) by The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/1277), reg. 30(1)(3), Sch. 2 para. 16(2), Sch. 4 Pt. 1 (with reg. 28(2)(3)) S. 1(4A)-(4D) inserted (26.5.2008) by The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/1277), reg. 30(1), Sch. 2 para. 16(3) (with reg. 28(2)(3)) Words in s. 1(4C) substituted (6.4.2025) by Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), s. 339(1), Sch. 21 para. 3(a) (with ss. 235, 243, 252); S.I. 2025/272, reg. 2(1)(12) Words in s. 1(4D) substituted (6.4.2025) by Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), s. 339(1), Sch. 21 para. 3(b) (with ss. 235, 243, 252); S.I. 2025/272, reg. 2(1)(12) S. 2(1)(aa) inserted (8.2.2013) by The Legislative Reform (Hallmarking) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/251), arts. 1(2), 3 S. 2(1)(d) and preceding word inserted (1.1.1999) by S.I. 1998/2978, reg. 2(2). Words in s. 2(1)(d) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 2(a) (as amended by S.I. 2020/676, regs. 1(1), 3); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1) Words in s. 2(2) inserted (1.1.1999) by S.I. 1998/2978, reg. 2(3). S. 2(2A) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 2(b) (as amended by S.I. 2020/676, regs. 1(1), 3); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1) Words in s. 2(3) substituted (1.1.1999) by S.I. 1998/2978, reg. 2(5). Words in s. 2(5)(c) inserted (1.1.1999) by S.I. 1998/2978, reg. 2(6). Words in s. 3(3)(a) omitted (8.2.2013) by virtue of The Legislative Reform (Hallmarking) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/251), arts. 1(2), 4 S. 4(1)(a)(iii)(iv)(v) substituted (1.1.1999) for s. 4(1)(a)(iii) and the word “and” immediately preceding it by S.I. 1998/2978, reg. 2(7). S. 4(2) substituted (1.1.1999) for s. 4(1A)(2) by S.I. 1998/2978, reg. 2(8). Words inserted by S.I. 1986/1757, reg. 2(b) Words substituted by S.I. 1986/1757, reg. 2(c) S. 4(3)(b)(iv) inserted (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 3 Words inserted by S.I. 1986/1757, reg. 2 (d) S. 4(3A) inserted (6.4.2007) by The Hallmarking Act 1973 (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/872), reg. 2(3) S. 4(4) omitted (1.1.1999) by S.I. 1998/2978, reg. 2(11). S. 4A inserted (8.2.2013) by The Legislative Reform (Hallmarking) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/251), arts. 1(2), 5 Words in s. 5(4)(c)(i) substituted (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 4(2) S. 5(5)(aa) inserted (8.2.2013) by The Legislative Reform (Hallmarking) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/251), arts. 1(2), 6(a) Words in s. 5(5)(c) inserted (8.2.2013) by The Legislative Reform (Hallmarking) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/251), arts. 1(2), 6(b) Words in s. 5(5)(c) inserted (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 4(3)(a) S. 5(5)(ca)(cb) inserted (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 4(3)(b) S. 5(5)(cc) added (8.2.2013) by The Legislative Reform (Hallmarking) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/251), arts. 1(2), 6(c) Words in s. 5(5)(d) substituted (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 4(3)(c) S. 9(2A) inserted (1.10.2015) by Consumer Rights Act 2015 (c. 15), s. 100(5), Sch. 6 para. 10(2); S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(i) S. 9(3) omitted (1.10.2015) by virtue of Consumer Rights Act 2015 (c. 15), s. 100(5), Sch. 6 para. 10(3); S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(i) (with art. 8) S. 9(4) omitted (1.10.2015) by virtue of Consumer Rights Act 2015 (c. 15), s. 100(5), Sch. 6 para. 10(3); S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(i) (with art. 8) S. 9(7) omitted (1.10.2015) by virtue of Consumer Rights Act 2015 (c. 15), s. 100(5), Sch. 6 para. 10(3); S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(i) (with art. 8) Words in s. 13(2)(e) inserted (8.2.2013) by The Legislative Reform (Hallmarking) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/251), arts. 1(2), 7 Words substituted by Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (c. 65, SIF 81:2), Sch. 27 Pt. II para. 209 Definition in s. 22(1) inserted (1.1.1999) by S.I. 1998/2978, reg. 2(12). Figures in s. 22(1) substituted (1.1.1999) by S.I. 1998/2978, reg. 2(13). Word in s. 22(1) omitted (22.7.2009) by virtue of Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 5(a) Words in s. 22(1) inserted (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 5(b) S. 22(1)(c) and the word “or” immediately preceding it inserted (1.1.1999) by S.I. 1998/2978, reg. 2(14). Words in s. 22(1) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 3 (as amended by S.I. 2020/676, regs. 1(1), 3); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1) Words repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1977 (c. 18), Sch. 1 Pt. XIII Sch. 1 Pt. 1 para. 1(1)(d) inserted (22.7.2009) by The Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 6(2) Sch. 1 Pt. II para. 5 substituted by S.I. 1975/1883, Sch. para. 1 Words in Sch. 1 para. 6 substituted (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 6(3) Sch. 1 para. 9A inserted (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 6(4) Para. 10 substituted by S.I. 1975/1883, Sch. para. 2 Sch. 1 Pt. 2: words in para. 10(b) substituted (6.4.2007) by The Hallmarking Act 1973 (Exemption) (Amendment) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/880), art. 2(2) Words inserted by S.I. 1986/1758, art. 2(a) Para. 12 substituted by S.I. 1982/256, art. 2 Words inserted by S.I. 1986/1758, art. 2(b) Words in Sch. 1 Pt. 2 para. 12(1) inserted (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 6(5) Sch. 1 Pt. 2 para. 12(2) substituted (1.10.2007) by The Hallmarking Act 1973 (Exemption) (Amendment No. 2) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/2493), art. 2(2) Sch. 1 Pt. 2 para. 12(3) repealed (1.10.2007) by The Hallmarking Act 1973 (Exemption) (Amendment No. 2) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/2493), art. 2(3) Sch. 1 Pt. 2 paras. 12A-12C inserted (1.10.2007) by The Hallmarking Act 1973 (Exemption) (Amendment No. 2) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/2493), art. 2(4) Words in Sch. 1 Pt. 2 para. 12A(2)(a) substituted (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 6(6) Sch. 1 para. 12D inserted (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 6(7) Para. 13 substituted by S.I. 1975/1883, Sch. para. 4 Words inserted by S.I. 1986/1758, art. 2(a)(c) Words added by S.I. 1986/1758, art. 2(a)(c) Words inserted by S.I. 1986/1758, art. 2(a) Para. 14A substituted by S.I. 1982/256, art. 2 Words inserted by S.I. 1986/1758, art. 2(b) Sch. 1 para. 14A(2) substituted (1.10.2007) by The Hallmarking Act 1973 (Exemption) (Amendment No. 2) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/2493), art. 2(5) Sch. 1 para. 14A(3) repealed (1.10.2007) by The Hallmarking Act 1973 (Exemption) (Amendment No. 2) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/2493), art. 2(6) Sch. 1 Pt. II para. 14AA inserted by S.I. 1986/1758, art. 2(d) Sch. 1 Pt. II para. 14AA inserted by S.I. 1986/1758, art. 2(d) Sch. 1 Pt. II para. 14B repealed by S.I. 1982/256, art. 3 Words in Sch. 1 Pt. 3 substituted (26.5.2008) by The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/1277), reg. 30(1), Sch. 2 para. 16(4) (with reg. 28(2)(3)) Words in Sch. 1 Pt. 3 para. 1 substituted (6.4.2025) by The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/381), reg. 1(2), Sch. para. 4 Sch. 2 Pt. I substituted (1.1.1999) by S.I. 1998/2978, reg. 2(15). Sch. 2 Pt. I substituted (1.1.1999) by S.I. 1998/2978, reg. 2(15). Words in Sch. 2 Pt. 1 para. 2 inserted (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 7(2) Words in Sch. 2 Pt. 1 para. 3 inserted (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 7(3) Sch. 2 Pt. I substituted (1.1.1999) by S.I. 1998/2978, reg. 2(15). Sch. 2 Pt. I substituted (1.1.1999) by S.I. 1998/2978, reg. 2(15). Sch. 2 Pts. 2, 3 substituted (6.4.2007) by The Hallmarking Act 1973 (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/872), reg. 2(6), Sch. Words in Sch. 2 para. 13 substituted (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 7(4) Words in Sch. 2 para. 14 substituted (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 7(5) Sch. 2 Pt. 2 para. 15(a) substituted (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 7(6) Words in Sch. 2 Pt. 3 para. 19(a) substituted (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 7(7) Sch. 2 Pt. 4: para. 7 renumbered (6.4.2007) as para. 20 by The Hallmarking Act 1973 (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/872), reg. 2(7) Sch. 3 para. 2(2) repealed (E.W.) by Criminal Law Act 1977 (c. 45, SIF 39:1) s. 65, Sch. 13 Sch. 3 para. 2(4) repealed by S.I. 1980/704 (N.I. 6), Sch. 2 Words repealed (E.W.) by Criminal Law Act 1977 (c. 45, SIF 39:1), s. 65, Sch. 13 Words in Sch. 4 para. 19(1) omitted (23.5.2003) by virtue of The Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 (Audit of Public Bodies) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1326), art. 8(2) Sch. 4 para. 19(1A)-(1D) inserted (23.5.2003) by The Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 (Audit of Public Bodies) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1326), art. 8(3) Schedule 4 para. 19(2) substitued (1. 10. 1991) by S.I. 1991/1997, regs. 2, 4, Sch. para.22 Words in Sch 4 para. 19(2) substituted (6.4.2008) by The Companies Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments etc) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/948), arts. 2(2), 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 1(l) (with arts. 6, 11, 12) Act modified (19.7.1995) by 1995 c. v, s. 3 and by 1995 c. vi, s. 3. Act modified (29.2.1996) by 1996 c. i, s. 1, Sch. para. 3. Act modified (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 2(1) S. 4 modified by S.I. 1976/730, art. 5(2), 6 (which S.I. was revoked (1.4.2002) by S.I. 2002/506, art. 1(2)) S. 4 modified (1.4.2002) by The Hallmarking (International Convention) Order 2002 (S.I. 2002/506), arts. 5(2), 6 Reference to Ministry of Commerce for Northern Ireland in s. 9(6) to be construed as reference to Department of Economic Development by virtue of Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36, SIF 29:3), Sch. 5 para. 8(1) and S.I. 1982/846 (N.I. 11), art. 4, 5 S. 16(1)(c) modified (19.7.1995) by 1995 c. v, s. 3 and by 1995 c. vi, s. 3. S. 16(1)(c) modified (19.7.1995) by 1995 c. v, s. 5(4) and by 1995 c. vi, s. 5(5). S. 16(1)(c) modified (retrospectively) (29.2.1996) by 1996 c. i, s. 1, Sch. para. 3. S. 16(1)(c) modified (29.2.1996) by 1996 c. i, s. 1, Sch. para. 5(5). S. 22(2) excluded (19.7.1995) by 1995 c. v, s. 5(4) and by 1995 c. vi, s. 5(5). S. 22(2) excluded (29.2.1996) by 1996 c. i, s. 1, Sch. para. 5(5). Sch. 2 Pt. 1 para. 1 modified (1.4.2002) by The Hallmarking (International Convention) Order 2002 (S.I. 2002/506), art. 6(3) 1913 c. 27. 1972 c. 70(81:1). 1973 c. 65(81:2). 1954 c. 33 (N.I.) 1968 c. 29(109:1). 1952 c. 55. 1954 c. 48(39:1). 1945 c. 18 An Act to make fresh provision for the composition, assaying, marking and description of articles of, or containing, precious metals, and as to agencies for the implementation and enforcement thereof; and for purposes connected with those matters.
Subject to the provisions of this Act, any person who, in the course of a trade or business— shall be guilty of an offence.
applies to an unhallmarked article a description indicating that it is wholly or partly made of gold, silver , platinum or palladium, or
supplies, or offers to supply, an unhallmarked article to which such a description is applied,
Subsection (1) above shall not apply to a description which is permitted by Part I of Schedule 1 to this Act.
Subsection (1) above shall not apply to an article within Part II of the said Schedule.
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Subsection (4B) applies in any case where—
the giving of a description of the fineness (whether in parts per thousand or otherwise) of any precious metal constitutes advertising within the meaning of the Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008, and
the description is false to any extent or degree (except by understating the fineness).
Part III of the said Schedule shall apply for construing descriptions relating to the fineness of precious metals.
In any such case, the giving of the description is to be treated as satisfying the requirements of regulation 3(2) of those Regulations (requirements for advertising to be misleading).
The provisions of this section have effect subject to Part IV of the said Schedule.
Subsection (4D) applies in any case where—
the giving of a description of the fineness (whether in parts per thousand or otherwise) of any precious metal constitutes a commercial practice within the meaning of Chapter 1 of Part 4 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, and
the description is false to any extent or degree (except by understating the fineness).
For the purposes of this section—
“advertisement” includes a catalogue, a circular and a price list,
section 4 of the Act of 1968 (which defines “applies a trade description”) shall apply to paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1), for the interpretation of references to a description being applied to any article, as it applies for the interpretation of references in that Act to applying a trade description,
a person exposing articles for supply, or having articles in his possession for supply, “offers to supply” them.
In any such case, the giving of the description is to be treated as an unfair commercial practice involving a misleading action for the purposes of that Chapter.
Where in an advertisement a description is used in relation to any class of articles, the description shall be taken as referring to all articles of the class, whether or not in existence at the time the advertisement is published— and section 5(3) of the Act of 1968 (defining goods of the class in question) shall apply for determining whether any articles are of a class to which a description used in an advertisement relates.
for the purpose of determining whether an offence has been committed under subsection (1)(a) above, and
where articles of the class are supplied or offered to be supplied by a person publishing or displaying the advertisement, also for the purpose of determining whether an offence has been committed under subsection (1)(b) above;
Section 39(2) of the Act of 1968 (descriptions in publications or broadcasts) shall apply for the purposes of this section.
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, “approved hallmarks” means—
marks struck by an assay office in the United Kingdom, whether before or after the commencement of this Act, under the law for the time being in force, or
marks struck outside the United Kingdom by an assay office under this Act, or
marks struck by the Wardens and Commonalty of Goldsmiths of the City of Dublin before 1st April 1923, or
marks struck by an assay office under the law of a country outside the United Kingdom, being marks designated for the purposes of this section by order of the Secretary of State as marks recognised pursuant to any international convention or treaty to which Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom is a party , or
marks struck in an EEA State other than the United Kingdom before exit day, being marks which—
have been struck by an independent body in accordance with the law of that State; and
provide information which is equivalent to the information provided by the marks mentioned in section 4(1)(a)(i) and (ii) of this Act and which is intelligible to consumers in the United Kingdom.
Marks within subsection (1)(c) above are in this Act called “convention hallmarks”, and marks within subsection (1)(d) above are in this Act called “EEA hallmarks”..
In this section “EEA state” has the meaning which it had under Schedule 1 to the Interpretation Act 1978 before exit day.
The Secretary of State may by order make such provision as appears to him appropriate for enabling articles submitted to an assay office in the United Kingdom to be struck with marks which, pursuant to any convention or treaty falling within subsection (1)(c) above, will, or will with other marks, be accorded recognition under the law of any other country, and for making consequential or incidental provisions, including provision for excluding or modifying any of the provisions of this Act.
For the purposes of this Act an article is unhallmarked—
if it does not bear the approved hallmarks and the sponsor’s mark, or
if the article has been the subject of any improper alteration.
In this Act “improper alteration” means an addition, alteration or repair which has been made to an article bearing approved hallmarks and— Provided that paragraphs (b) and (c) of this subsection shall not apply if, after the making of the addition, alteration or repair, the article has been re-assayed and struck with any further approved hallmark.
which contravened section 5 of this Act, or
which was made before the coming into force of that section,and would have required the consent of an assay office if that section had been in force, or
in the case of an article which bears a convention hallmark or an EEA hallmark, would have required that consent if the addition, alteration or repair had been made in the United Kingdom:
Before an article is submitted to an assay office to be struck with the approved hallmarks there shall be struck on the article a mark indicative of the manufacturer or sponsor and known as the sponsor’s mark: Provided that the assay office and the manufacturer or sponsor of an article may make arrangements for the sponsor’s mark to be struck by that assay office upon submission of the article to be struck with the approved hallmarks.
After 31st December 1975 all sponsors’ marks for the time being in use shall cease to be authorised for striking on any article intended to be struck with the approved hallmarks and thenceforth a sponsor’s mark shall be authorised (whether or not of the same design as any sponsor’s mark which was authorised before 1st January 1976) only if it is for the time being registered under the following provisions of this section with an assay office by which the article is intended to be so struck.
“functions” includes powers and duties;
Any sponsor’s mark which is registered under this section shall ... be of such design as may be approved by an assay office:
Provided that nothing in this paragraph shall apply to the registration on or before 31st December 1975 by a manufacturer or sponsor (or to the renewal from time to time thereafter of that registration) of the same mark as until that date has been authorised for use by him in terms of subsection (2) of this section.
An assay office shall maintain a register of sponsors’ marks for the time being registered and approved by that assay office under this section
Upon application for registration or renewal of the registration of any sponsor’s mark under this section with an assay office, there shall be payable by the applicant such reasonable fee as for the time being is specified in regulations made by the Council and any application shall be made in such form accompanied by such particulars and exhibits as may be so specified.
Registration or renewal of the registration of any sponsor’s mark under this section shall be subject to the approval, provision and recording from time to time (in accordance with regulations made by the Council) of such punches or other equipment as may be specified in such regulations.
Any assay office may register under this section their own sponsor’s mark, being of such design as may be approved by resolution of the Council; and in any case where a person submits an article to an assay office for striking with the approved hallmarks and that assay office are of opinion that they would not be justified in requiring that person to register and strike a sponsor’s mark in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this section, the sponsor’s mark of that assay office may be struck on the article.
The registration of a sponsor’s mark under this section shall cease to have effect after the expiration of the period of ten years following registration but without prejudice to the making of any application for renewal of such registration.
Any person who without authority strikes an article with a mark purporting to be a sponsor’s mark authorised under this section shall be guilty of an offence.
Subject to the provisions of this section and of Schedule 2 to this Act, any article of precious metal, which is submitted to an assay office for hallmarking and which upon assay is found in all its parts to be of a standard of fineness not less than the minimum fineness for that precious metal, shall be struck by that assay office with the approved hallmarks, namely— and, as respects all such articles, in compliance with any directions given by the Council pursuant to Part IV of the said Schedule with respect to any shield or other border by which any approved hallmark is to be enclosed.
as respects articles comprised of a single precious metal (and governed by Part I of the said Schedule 2)—
the assay office mark as specified in paragraph 1 of the said Schedule appropriate to the assay office specified in column (1) opposite to such mark;
the standard mark specified in paragraph 2 of the said Schedule as respects an article of the precious metal specified opposite thereto in column (1) of the said paragraph assaying to a standard of fineness specified in column (2) of the said paragraph and also so opposite;
the pictorial mark, or one of the pictorial marks, specified in paragraph 3 of the said Schedule as respects an article of the precious metal specified opposite thereto in column (1) of the said paragraph assaying to a standard of fineness specified in column (2) of the said paragraph and also so opposite;
the date letter directed pursuant to paragraph 4 of the said Schedule; and
the mark (if any) directed pursuant to paragraph 5 of the said Schedule;
as respects articles comprised of two or more precious metals and satisfying the conditions of Part II of the said Schedule 2, marks struck in accordance with that Part; and
as respects articles comprised of precious metal and other materials and satisfying the conditions of Part III of the said Schedule 2, marks struck in accordance with that Part;
Each of the approved hallmarks mentioned in subsection (1)(a)(iii), (iv) and (v) above shall be struck by an assay office on an article only if a request to that effect is made by the person who submits the article to the assay office; but the absence of any such approved hallmark on an article by virtue of this subsection shall not in itself render the article unhallmarked for the purposes of this Act.
No article shall be struck with the approved hallmarks unless—
the assay office are of opinion that the use of any solder or adhesive is not excessive;
“precious metal” in relation to any article means gold, silver or platinum, or any other metal to which by an order under section 17 of this Act the provisions of this Act are applied;
gold, is gold of a fineness not less than the standard of fineness of the article:
of a standard of fineness of 916-6 may be of a fineness not less than 750 ; and
of filigree work or being a watch case and in either case of a standard of fineness of 750, may be of a fineness not less than 740; and
of white gold of a standard of fineness of 750, may be of a fineness not less than 500;
Provided that solder used in any article—
of a standard of fineness of 916·6 may be of a fineness not less than 750; and
of filigree work or being a watch case and in either case of a standard of fineness of 750, may be of a fineness not less than 740; and
of white gold of a standard of fineness of not less than 585 and not more than 750, may be of a fineness not less than 500;
palladium, is gold, silver, platinum or palladium or a combination of two or more thereof and is of a fineness or (as the case may be) of a combined fineness not less than the standard of fineness of the article: Provided that solder used in any article of a standard of fineness of 950 or above may be of a fineness not less than 700; and
silver, is silver of a fineness not less than 650;
platinum, is gold, silver, platinum or palladium or a combination of two or more thereof and is of a fineness or (as the case may be) of a combined fineness not less than 950;
solder of a fineness less than the standard of fineness of the article or adhesive is used in a quantity not more than is necessary for joining parts of the article and is not used for strengthening, weighting, filling or otherwise.
An article comprised of more than one precious metal part shall be struck with the approved hallmarks only if the assay office are of the opinion that a person will be able to determine, when the article is hallmarked, which part is made of which precious metal.
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If— the Council shall consider the case and, if they are of the opinion that the assay office were acting unreasonably in refusing to hallmark the article, they shall direct the assay office to strike the article with the approved hallmarks.
an assay office have refused to hallmark an article submitted to them for hallmarking under this section; and
the person submitting the article has referred the matter to the Council in writing;
It shall be the duty of an assay office to whom a direction has been given under subsection (5) above to comply with the direction.
The Secretary of State may, after consulting the Council and such other persons as he thinks fit, make regulations wholly or partly varying, supplementing or replacing the foregoing provisions of this section and the provisions of Schedule 2 to this Act; and upon the coming into operation of regulations made under this subsection those provisions, or such of them as may be specified in such regulations together with any regulations or directions made or given under those provisions, shall have effect as so varied or supplemented or (as the case may be) shall cease to have effect.
Regulations made under this subsection may contain such transitional, incidental, supplementary or consequential provision as the Secretary of State considers necessary or expedient for the purpose of the regulations, including provision applying, extending, excluding or amending, or repealing or revoking, with or without savings, any provision of this Act or an instrument under this Act.
This Act applies with the following modifications in relation to business carried on outside the United Kingdom by an assay office.
Subsection (1) of section 4 has effect as if for “shall be struck” there were substituted “may be struck” and as if for paragraph (a)(i) there were substituted—.
Schedule 2 has effect as if—
paragraph 1 were omitted;
in paragraph 7(a) for “assay office mark”, there were substituted “mark approved for use outside the United Kingdom by the assay office pursuant to section 4(1)(a)(i),”;
in paragraph 10(3) and (4)(c) for “assay office mark” there were substituted “mark mentioned in paragraph 7(a)”; and
paragraph 15(b) were omitted.
Schedule 5 has effect as if in paragraph 2(1) for “the assay office shall examine” there were substituted “the assay office may examine”.
Subject to subsections (3) to (5) below, it shall be an offence for any person to make an addition, alteration or repair to an article bearing approved hallmarks, except in accordance with the written consent of an assay office.
Subject to subsection (3) below, it shall be an offence for any person to remove, alter or deface any mark struck on an article, except in accordance with the written consent of an assay office. For the purposes of this subsection “mark” means a sponsor’s mark, any approved hallmark, the word “filled”, the word “metal” or any other word for the time being prescribed by or under section 4 of, or Schedule 2 to, this Act.
It shall not be an offence under subsection (1) or (2) above to batter an article so as to render it fit only for remanufacture.
It shall not be an offence under subsection (1) above to make an addition to an article which is not a new ware if the character of the article, and the purposes for which it can be used, remain unaltered and—
the addition is of the same precious metal as that of the article;
the metal added to the article is of a fineness not less than the standard of fineness of the article; and
the amount of metal added does not exceed the lesser of—
1 gram of gold, 5 grams of silver , 0.5 grams of platinum or 1 gram of palladium, as the case may be; and
50 per cent. of the weight of the article immediately before the addition was made.
It shall not be an offence under subsection (1) above to add a coating, of a thickness not exceeding 2 micrometres at any point, to the whole or any part of—
an article of gold, if the coating is of gold of a fineness not less than the standard of fineness of the article; or
an article of gold, if the coating is of platinum of not less than the minimum fineness; or
an article of silver, if the coating is of silver of a fineness not less than the standard of fineness of the article; or
an article of silver, if the coating is of gold or platinum or palladium of not less than the minimum fineness; or
an article of gold, silver , platinum or palladium, if the coating is of rhodium.
an article of palladium, if the coating is of palladium of a fineness not less than the standard of fineness of the article; or
an article of palladium, if the coating is of gold or platinum of not less than the minimum fineness; or
an article of platinum, if the coating is of platinum of a fineness not less than the standard of fineness of the article; or
In giving any consent for the purposes of subsection (1) or (2) above, an assay office may make it a condition of the consent that the article concerned, or any addition made to it, be further assayed and struck with—
the sponsor’s mark; and
such of the approved hallmarks as may be specified in directions issued by the Council for the purposes of this subsection or, in the absence of any such directions, such of the approved hallmarks as may be determined by the assay office.
If— the Council shall consider the case and, if they are of the opinion that the assay office were acting unreasonably in withholding the consent applied for, they shall direct the assay office to grant the consent.
an application for consent under subsection (1) or (2) above has been refused by an assay office; and
the applicant has referred the matter to the Council, in writing;
Without prejudice to subsection (6) above, it shall be the duty of an assay office to whom a direction has been given under subsection (7) above to comply with the direction.
Any person who— shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £400, or on conviction on indictment to a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years.
with intent to defraud or deceive, makes a counterfeit of any die or mark; or
removes any mark from an article of precious metal with intent to transpose it to any other article (whether of precious metal or not) or affixes to any article (whether of precious metal or not) any mark which has been removed from an article of precious metal; or
utters any counterfeit of a die or any article bearing a counterfeit of a mark; or
without lawful authority or excuse, has in his custody or under his control anything which is, and which he knows or believes to be, a counterfeit of a die or an article (whether of precious metal or not) which bears a counterfeit of any mark,
In subsection (1) above—
“the Act of 1968 ” means the Trade Descriptions Act 1968;
“die” means the whole or part of any plate, tool or instrument by means whereof any mark of the nature of a sponsor’s mark or a hallmark is struck on any metal; and
In relation to any order under section 16(2) of this Act the provisions of Part I of this Schedule shall have effect subject to the following modifications—
“enactment” includes an enactment of the Parliament of Northern Ireland, and (without prejudice to subsection (3) of this section) any reference in this Act to an enactment shall include a reference to any enactment re-enacting it with or without modifications;
and shall be hallmarked only in the manner specified for an article of that description— and in relation to any article of the description of sub-paragraphs (a) or (b) of this paragraph the precious metal of the part of the article which is not (in terms of sub-paragraph (a)) of gold or not (in terms of sub-paragraph (b)) of silver may, at the discretion of the assay office, be marked only with the standard mark.
where gold parts exceed 50 per cent, by weight of a whole article, which also contains platinum but not silver parts, the gold parts shall be hallmarked as if they comprised a separate article ;
where silver parts exceed 50 per cent, by weight of a whole article which also contains gold or platinum parts or both such parts, the silver parts shall be hallmarked as if they comprised a separate article ;
where any small working parts (which for technical reasons cannot be made of the same standard of fineness or of the same precious metal as the remainder of the article) form part of an article of which the remainder is of a higher standard of fineness or of a more precious metal, the part which is of the higher standard of fineness or (as the case may be) of the more precious metal shall be hallmarked as if it comprised a separate article and the parts which are of the lower standard of fineness or of the less precious metal shall be struck only with the standard mark for the metal of which those parts are made. For the purposes of this sub-paragraph platinum shall be deemed more precious than gold or silver and gold be deemed more precious than silver; and “more precious ” and “less precious ” shall be construed accordingly;
where any article of silver is coated in whole or in part with gold, the article shall be hallmarked as if it were comprised only of silver; and
where any article of gold, silver or platinum is coated in whole or in part with rhodium, the article shall be hallmarked as if it were comprised only of gold, silver or platinum (as the case may be) ;
Standard mark Precious metal Standard of fineness Standard mark (1) (2) (3) Gold 375 The figures 375 Gold 585 The figures 585 Gold 750 The figures 750 Gold 916.6 The figures 916 Gold 990 The figures 990 Gold 999 The figures 999 Silver 800 The figures 800 Silver 925 The figures 925 Silver 958.4 The figures 958 Silver 999 The figures 999 Platinum 850 The figures 850 Platinum 900 The figures 900 Platinum 950 The figures 950 Platinum 999 The figures 999 Palladium 500 The figures 500 Palladium 950 The figures 950 Palladium 999 The figures 999
In this Act, unless the subject or context otherwise requires—
“assay office” means (subject to subsection (2) of this section) each of the following bodies— The Wardens and Commonalty of the Mystery of Goldsmiths of the City of London (in this Act referred to as “the London Assay Office”); The Incorporation of Goldsmiths of the City of Edinburgh (in this Act referred to as “the Edinburgh Assay Office”); The Guardians of the Standard of Wrought Plate in Birmingham (in this Act referred to as “the Birmingham Assay Office”); The Guardians of the Standard of Wrought Plate within the town of Sheffield (in this Act referred to as “the Sheffield Assay Office”);
a body for the time being established under section 16(1)(a) of this Act, and
Section 1.
Subject to the provisions of this paragraph— If the description is in writing the lettering of “plated” or “rolled” is to be at least as large as any other lettering in the description. This paragraph does not apply if the description is false or is applied to an article for which the description is inappropriate.
“palladium” is permissible if qualified by the word “plated”.
A description is permissible if it is implicitly or in express terms confined to the colour of the article.
An article which is intended for despatch to a destination outside the United Kingdom.
An article which is outside the United Kingdom, or which is in course of consignment from outside the United Kingdom to an assay office in the United Kingdom.
Any coin which is, or was formerly at any time, current coin of the United Kingdom or any other territory.
Any article which has been used, or is intended to be used, for medical, dental, veterinary, scientific or industrial purposes.
Any battered article fit only to be remanufactured.
Any article of gold silver, or palladium thread.
Any raw material (including any bar, plate, sheet, foil, rod, wire, strip or tube) or bullion.
Any manufactured article which is not substantially complete, and which is intended for further manufacture.
Any article which is wholly or mainly of platinum, and which was manufactured before 1st January 1975.
Any article which—
is wholly or mainly of gold or of silver or of gold and silver assaying in all its gold parts not less than 375 parts per thousand and in all its silver parts less than 800 parts per thousand; and
was manufactured before the year 1950 and has not since the beginning of the year 1950 been the subject of any alteration which would be an improper alteration if the article had previously borne approved hallmarks.
Subject to paragraph 14AA below, any musical instrument, where the description is applied to the mouthpiece, and the mouthpiece is of minimum fineness.
Subject to paragraph 14AA and subject to the provisions of this paragraph, any article containing only one precious metal, being a metal of minimum fineness and of a weightless than that specified in the following table: gold 1 gram silver 7·78 grams platinum 0·5 gram palladium 1 gram. This paragraph does not apply— . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Subject to paragraph 14AA, any article— This paragraph does not apply to any article—
Subject to paragraph 14AA below, any article , except an article made of chainwork, which is wholly of one or more precious metals of minimum fineness and which is so small or thin that it cannot be hallmarked.
Subject to paragraph 14AA, any article— This paragraph does not apply to any article—
Subject to paragraph 14AA below, any article which is of minimum fineness and which is imported temporarily (whether as a trade sample, or as intended for exhibition otherwise) and for the time being remains under the control of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise.
Subject to paragraph 14AA, any article— This paragraph does not apply to any article—
Subject to paragraph 14AA, any article— This paragraph does not apply to any article—
Subject to paragraph 14AA and subject to the provisions of this paragraph, any article, any precious metal in which is of minimum fineness, and which either— This paragraph does not apply— . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Paragraphs 11 to 14A above do not apply to any article in which solder containing precious metal is used unless the solder is of a standard of fineness equivalent to that which would be required under section 4(3) of this Act if the article were submitted to an assay office for hallmarking.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any article which is wholly or partly of palladium, and which was manufactured before 1st January 2010.
The following articles of gold, if manufactured before 1st January 1975 and (except in the case of articles mentioned in sub-paragraph (d) below) of minimum fineness—
rings, except wedding rings, pencil cases, lockets, watch chains and thimbles,
articles consisting entirely of filigree work,
articles so heavily engraved or set with stones that it is impossible to mark them without damage,
jewellers works, that is the actual setting only in which stones or other jewels are set, and jointed sleeper earrings.
Subject to the exceptions below, the following articles of silver, if manufactured before 1st January 1975, and (except in the case of articles mentioned in paragraph (e) below) of minimum fineness: The following articles are not exempt under sub-paragraph (1) above—
Articles of gold or silver manufactured before 1st January 1975, other than articles mentioned in paragraphs 15 or 16 above, and being of such descriptions as, under any enactment in force immediately before the passing of this Act, to be specifically exempt from hallmarking.
Where under this Part of this Schedule an exemption depends on the date of manufacture, or the date of any alteration, the manufacture or alteration shall be presumed to be after that date until the contrary is proved.
This Part of this Schedule applies for the purposes of section 1 of this Act, this Schedule , the Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008 and Chapter 1 of Part 4 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.
A description indicating that an article, or the metal in an article, is of so many carats is to be presumed to be an indication that the article or metal is of gold, and that its fineness is that specified in the following table for that number of carats. This paragraph shall not apply if (as in a case where the article is a precious stone) the word ’carat’ is used as a measure of weight for precious stones, and not as a measure of fineness. Number of carats indicates gold of a standard of fineness of 9 375 parts per thousand 12 500 parts per thousand 14 585 parts per thousand 15 625 parts per thousand 18 750 parts per thousand 22 916·6 parts per thousand and so in proportion for any other number of carats.
A description of an article, or of the metal in an article, as “sterling” or (except in the phrase “Britannia metal”) “Britannia” is to be presumed to be an indication that the article, or the metal, is of silver. If “sterling” is the word used, the description is to be presumed to be an indication that the silver is of a standard of fineness of 925. If the word used is “Britannia” the description is to be presumed to be an indication that the silver is of a standard of fineness of 958·4.
The Secretary of State may by order— An order under this paragraph—
Section 4.
Optional pictorial mark Precious metal Standard of fineness Pictorial mark (1) (2) (3) Gold 375 A crown Gold 585 A crown Gold 750 A crown Gold 916.6 A crown Gold 990 A crown Gold 999 A crown Silver 925 A lion passant. In the case of an article struck by the Edinburgh Assay Office, the reference to a lion passant shall be treated as a reference to a lion rampant. Silver 958.4 The figure of Britannia or a lion passant. In the case of an article struck by the Edinburgh Assay Office, the reference to a lion passant shall be treated as a reference to a lion rampant. Silver 999 The figure of Britannia or a lion passant. In the case of an article struck by the Edinburgh Assay Office, the reference to a lion passant shall be treated as a reference to a lion rampant. Platinum 950 An orb surmounted by a cross Platinum 999 An orb surmounted by a cross Palladium 500 The head of Pallas Athene Palladium 950 The head of Pallas Athene Palladium 999 The head of Pallas Athene
The person who submits the article to an assay office may request the assay office to strike the marks mentioned in paragraph 7 on a particular precious metal part. The assay office must comply with such a request unless they think that, in consequence of doing so, it would not be clear which part of the article is made of which precious metal.
This paragraph applies if— The Council may direct the assay office to comply with the request. The assay office must comply with the direction.
This paragraph applies to the striking of hallmarks other than in accordance with a request under paragraph 8. Each standard mark must be struck on the precious metal part to which it relates. The assay office mark must be struck together with the standard mark for the least precious metal. If it is not practical to strike the marks in accordance with sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) they must be struck as follows—
If the person who submits the article to the assay office so requests, the assay office must, if it is practical to do so— The absence of an approved hallmark as mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) does not render the article unhallmarked for the purposes of this Act.
Any small working parts contained within an article which for technical reasons are of a lower standard of fineness or of a less precious metal than the remainder of the article shall, if it is practicable to strike a mark on those parts, be struck with the standard mark only but shall otherwise be ignored for the purpose of determining which hallmarks are to be struck on the remainder of the article.
Where any article of gold, silver , platinum or palladium is coated in whole or in part with rhodium the rhodium shall be ignored for the purpose of determining which hallmarks are to be struck.
Where any article of silver , platinum or palladium is coated in whole or in part with gold the gold coating shall be ignored for the purpose of determining which hallmarks are to be struck.
For the purposes of this Part and Part 3—
the ranking of precious metals (with platinum being the most precious and silver the least precious) is— platinum gold palladium silver, and “least precious” and “less precious” shall be construed accordingly,
“assay office mark” means the mark determined in accordance with section 4(1)(a)(i), and
“standard mark” means the mark determined in accordance with section 4(1)(a)(ii) as if the precious metal part comprised a single article.
Optional date letter Such distinct variable letter of the alphabet to denote the year in which the article is marked as may be for the time being directed in writing by the Council.
Optional additional mark Such mark (if any) as may be for the time being directed in writing by the Council.]
A mixed material article shall not be hallmarked unless, upon assay, each precious metal is of a standard of fineness not less than the minimum fineness for that precious metal and sub-paragraph (2) or (3) applies. If the article includes base metal the base metal part must be clearly distinguishable in appearance (either by the colour of that part or by having struck on it the name of that metal, or the word “metal”, in a manner which complies with any regulations made by the Council) from any precious metal. If the article does not include base metal the condition in sub-paragraph (4) or (5) must apply. The condition in this sub-paragraph is that— The condition in this sub-paragraph is that in respect of any article in which the other materials are wholly or mainly enclosed by precious metal— Paragraph (b) of sub-paragraph (5) does not apply in the case of the handle to a knife, fork or spoon if the quantity of filling in the handle is not more than is necessary for joining.
A mixed material article with only a single precious metal part shall be hallmarked on the precious metal part as if it were a separate article.
A mixed material article comprised of two or more precious metal parts shall be hallmarked on a precious metal part in accordance with Part 2.
For the purposes of this Part—
“base metal” means any metal other than gold, silver , platinum or palladium, and
“mixed material article” means an article comprised of one or more precious metal parts and one or more other materials.
An article comprised of two or more precious metals shall not be hallmarked unless, upon assay, each precious metal is of a standard of fineness not less than the minimum fineness for that precious metal.
where the other materials include base metal, the article shall be hallmarked only if the use of the base metal in the manufacture of the article is authorised by regulations made by the Council (or, in relation to any single article, is approved by the Council)—
as being reasonably required to fulfil the purpose for which the article is designed to be used; and
as satisfying the requirement that the part composed of base metal should be clearly distinguishable in appearance (either by the colour of that part or by having struck thereon the word “metal” in manner consonant with any regulations made by the Council) from any part which is of precious metal of minimum fineness.
where the other materials do not include base metal, the article shall be hallmarked only on the precious metal part thereof and only if—
those materials are clearly distinguishable from any part of the article which is of precious metal and they are not plated or of a colour to resemble any precious metal and their extent is clearly visible, or
in respect of any article wherein the other materials are wholly or mainly enclosed by precious metal, the article has been so manufactured as to be capable of being hallmarked before it is filled and (except in the case of a handle to a knife, fork or spoon where the quantity of filling in the handle is not more than is necessary for joining) there has been struck thereon the word “filled ” in manner consonant with any regulations made by the Council.
Each of the marks comprising the approved hallmarks shall be enclosed by such shield or other border as the Council may (if they see fit) for the time being specify by directions to the assay offices.
The article shall be struck with—
the assay office mark, and
the appropriate standard mark for each precious metal.
Section 8.
A person guilty of an offence under this Act for which no other penalty is specified shall be liable—
on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £400; and
on conviction on indictment, to a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or both.
No prosecution for an offence under this Act shall be commenced after the expiration of three years from the commission of the offence or one year from its discovery by the prosecutor whichever is the earlier. Notwithstanding anything in section 104 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1952, a magistrates’ court may try an information for an offence under this Act if the information was laid at any time within twelve months from the commission of the offence. Notwithstanding anything in section 23 of the Summary Jurisdiction (Scotland) Act 1954 (limitation of time for proceedings in statutory offences) summary proceedings in Scotland for an offence under this Act may be commenced at any time within twelve months from the time when the offence was committed, and subsection (2) of the said section 23 shall apply for the purposes of this sub-paragraph as it applies for the purposes of that section. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) above do not apply where—
Where an offence under this Act which has been committed by a body corporate is proved to have been committed with the consent and connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of, any director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate, or any person who was purporting to act in any such capacity, he as well as the body corporate shall be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. In this paragraph “director” in relation to any body corporate established by or under any enactment for the purpose of carrying on under national ownership any industry or part of an industry or undertaking, being a body corporate whose affairs are managed by the members thereof, means a member of that body corporate.
Where the commission by any person of an offence under this Act is due to the act or default of some other person that other person shall be guilty of the offence, and a person may be charged with and convicted of the offence by virtue of this paragraph whether or not proceedings are taken against the first-mentioned person.
In proceedings for an offence under this Act committed by the publication of an advertisement it shall be a defence for the person charged to prove that he is a person whose business it is to publish or arrange for the publication of advertisements and that he received the advertisement for publication in the ordinary course of business and did not know and had no reason to suspect that its publication would amount to an offence under this Act.
In any proceedings for an offence under section 1 of this Act, it shall be a defence for the person charged to prove that—
in reliance on information supplied by another person, he believed that the article concerned was one which was exempt from hallmarking by virtue of Part II of Schedule 1 to this Act; and
that he could not with reasonable diligence have ascertained that it was not such an article.
Section 13.
The Council shall consist of not less than sixteen nor more than nineteen members.
Ten of the members of the Council shall be appointed by the Secretary of State. Three of the members appointed by the Secretary of State shall be persons appearing to him to be suitably qualified by virtue of their knowledge of, and experience in, organisations established, or activities carried on, for the protection of the consumer. Four of the members appointed by the Secretary of State, but not more than four, shall be persons appearing to him to be suitably qualified by virtue of their engagement wholly or mainly in trading in, or manufacture of, articles of precious metal. Before making any appointment under sub-paragraph (3) of this paragraph the Secretary of State shall consult the assay offices and such bodies representing persons engaged wholly or mainly in trading in, or manufacture of, articles of precious metal as he thinks appropriate.
Six of the members of the Council shall be appointed by the assay offices as follows, that is to say— Any person appointed under this paragraph shall be a person appearing to the assay office appointing him to be suitably qualified by virtue of his knowledge and experience of hallmarking. A person engaged wholly or mainly in trading in, or in articles manufactured of, precious metal shall not be appointed under this paragraph.
Members shall be appointed under the preceding provisions of this Schedule to take office on 1st January in the year 1974, and in each third succeeding year, and members so appointed shall hold office for a term of three years.
Not more than two members of the Council may be persons appointed by the Council as co-opted members. A co-opted member shall hold office in accordance with the terms of his appointment.
A person wholly or mainly employed by an assay office, other than the clerk to an assay office, shall not be eligible for membership of the Council.
The first meeting of the Council shall be held on such day and at such time and place as may be appointed by the Clerk to the Birmingham Assay Office and the said Clerk shall make arrangements for notice of the meeting to be sent by post to each member of the Council not less than fourteen days before the day so appointed.
A member of the Council may at any time, by notice in writing to the secretary of the Council, resign his office. When a member of the Council other than a co-opted member ceases to hold office otherwise than upon expiration of his period of office, his place shall be taken by a person appointed in the same manner as the member in question. A person taking office by virtue of sub-paragraph (2) above shall retire when the person whose place he takes would normally have retired.
The Council shall elect a person to serve as chairman from among the members of the Council and notice of his election shall, as soon as is reasonably practicable, be given in writing to the Secretary of State by the secretary or other person for the time being authorised by the Council in that behalf. The chairman of the Council shall hold office as such until the expiration of the period of his office as a member current at his election as chairman or until he resigns office as chairman or until he ceases to be a member of the Council, whichever first occurs. If any member appointed by an assay office is elected as chairman of the Council, paragraph 8(2) of this Schedule shall have effect as if that member had ceased to hold office otherwise than upon the expiration of his period of office.
A person retiring from or resigning office as the chairman or as a member of the Council shall be eligible to hold that office again.
The powers of the Council or any committee thereof may be exercised notwithstanding any vacancy in its membership, and no proceedings of such a body shall be invalidated by any defect in the selection of a person to be a member of that body.
Questions arising at any meeting of the Council or of any committee thereof shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members present in person or by proxy: Provided that in the event of an equality of votes the chairman, or in his absence the person acting as chairman, shall have a second or casting vote.
The chief executive of an assay office and any other employee authorised by them in that behalf may attend and speak at meetings of the Council.
The Council may in any standing orders made by them pursuant to paragraph 16 of this Schedule make such provision as they think fit as to the giving of votes by proxy at meetings of the Council, including provision as to the form of appointment of any proxy, the submission of any completed proxy in due time before any meeting and as to all matters related to voting by proxy. A proxy for a member of the Council or of any committee of the Council need not be a member of the Council or that committee as the case may be.
The Council may appoint a technical committee and one or more other committees to carry out on their behalf such of the functions of the Council as they may determine, and any such committee shall be comprised of such persons appointed on such terms as the Council may determine.
The Council may make standing orders for regulating the proceedings (including quorum) of the Council or any committee thereof, as the Council from time to time think fit.
The Council shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal and with power to hold and dispose of land. Every instrument to which the common seal is affixed shall be signed by a member and counter-signed by the secretary of the Council or by a second such member.
The expenses of the Council (which may include reasonable provision for reserves) for the year then current shall, unless otherwise resolved by the Council, be estimated and determined upon at the first meeting of the Council in any year and shall be defrayed out of contributions paid in accordance with this paragraph by each of the assay offices. The contribution so to be paid by any assay office shall be ascertained by applying to the amount of the said expenses of the Council that percentage (which for purposes of practical calculation may be adjusted by the Council by not more than one half of one per cent. or by any greater percentage with the agreement of that assay office) of the aggregate of the gross revenues of all the assay offices from charges for assaying and hallmarking precious metals under this Act (being revenue ascertained in manner for the time being determined by the Council), which is represented by the like gross revenue of that assay office alone and so ascertained. Unless otherwise determined by the Council, every contribution payable under this paragraph shall be paid within three months after any such meeting of the Council as is referred to in sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph.
The Council shall keep proper accounts of all sums received or paid by them . . . Their accounts for each year ending on or before 31st December 2002 shall be audited by the auditors appointed by the Council. The Council shall send their accounts for each subsequent year to the Comptroller and Auditor General as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of the year to which the accounts relate. The Comptroller and Auditor General shall examine, certify and report on any accounts sent to him under sub-paragraph (1B). The Comptroller and Auditor General shall lay before each House of Parliament a copy of any accounts sent to him under sub-paragraph (1B), together with his report on them. No person shall be appointed as auditor under this paragraph unless he is eligible for appointment as a statutory auditor under Part 42 of the Companies Act 2006 .
The Council may pay to the chairman of the Council such remuneration and expenses as they see fit and to any other of their members, or to any member of a committee appointed by them, travelling, subsistence or other allowances.
The Council shall appoint a secretary and such other officers and servants on such terms as to remuneration, pensions or otherwise as the Council may determine.
Section 15.
An assay office may refuse to assay or mark any new ware if it is submitted at a stage of its manufacture which is unreasonable for assaying of and striking of marks on the new ware.
Upon receipt of any article submitted to an assay office for assay and hallmarking, the assay office shall examine the same to ascertain whether it is in their opinion sufficiently advanced in workmanship and, if composed of one or more parts, whether all the parts are present, and also whether the article complies with the conditions of this Act so as to permit it to be struck with the approved hallmarks; and, if the assay office are dissatisfied as respects any of the foregoing matters, they shall return the article without making an assay thereof. If upon receipt and view of any article submitted to an assay office for assay and hallmarking, the assay office shall suspect that other materials than precious metal of not less than the minimum fineness therefor have been introduced or concealed in any such article, the assay office may cause the same to be cut; and if upon cutting— Subject to sub-paragraphs (1), (2) and (5) of this paragraph, the assay office may cause to be drawn, scraped, cut or otherwise removed from the article such quantity of precious metal or take such other sample or do such other thing as may be necessary to enable an accurate assay to be made of the article and may retain the quantity so removed and apply it (or the value thereof) towards their general expenses. In the event of any part of any article or any sample from any article being found to be of a fineness— If an assay office are satisfied where two or more articles being new wares are submitted to them in one parcel of work for assay and hallmarking that all the articles so submitted are intended to assay to a single standard of fineness, the assay office may, notwithstanding anything in sub-paragraph (3) of this paragraph, carry out a single assay in respect of some or all of the articles contained in such parcel.
Her Majesty’s Mint may at any time and from time to time as thought fit in normal office hours visit any assay office for the purpose of inspecting the assay department of that office and of ascertaining and assessing the accuracy and efficiency of their methods and procedures of assay; and a report on the assay department of each assay office shall be prepared once in every period of fourteen months by the Queen’s Assay Master and presented to the Deputy Master of Her Majesty’s Mint, copies of such reports having first been sent to the Council and the assay office concerned. If such assay methods, in the opinion of Her Majesty’s Mint, are not of such a standard as will enable that assay office to report accurately on the fineness of any article, or articles, of precious metal, then Her Majesty’s Mint shall notify the Council and the assay office forthwith and make to each of them such recommendations as appear requisite in relation to such assay methods; and the Council shall consult with the assay office as to the action Q to be taken upon such recommendations. Her Majesty’s Mint shall be entitled to make a reasonable charge to each assay office in respect of the performance of their functions under this paragraph.
Each assay office shall be responsible both for the safe custody of the dies to be used by that assay office for the purpose of striking articles with the approved hallmarks and other marks and for the disposal of such dies as and when the same are no longer required. The Council may after consultation with all the assay offices make regulations in or in connection with the discharge by assay offices of the duty imposed upon them by sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph and as to the manner in which any such die is to be made or used and generally in relation thereto.
Section 16.
Before making application for an order under subsection (1)(b) of section 16 of this Act, the applicants shall consult the assay office the subject of the proposed order and, if so requested by the assay office, shall submit to the Secretary of State a draft of the proposed order and such written observations as the assay office may make to the applicants within the period of forty-two days after being so consulted; and, following the submission of such a draft and observations, the applicants shall take no further steps in connection with the proposed application pending a decision of the Secretary of State, who shall give written notice to the applicants and the assay office either that he refuses to consider such an application or that it is (without prejudice, however, to subsequent refusal thereof) to be allowed to proceed.
On application for any order to which this Part of this Schedule applies the applicants shall submit to the Secretary of State a draft of the order which they desire him to make and shall publish once at least in each of two successive weeks in one or more newspapers circulating in the locality wherein the assay office the subject of the order carries on or is intended to carry on business (as the case may be) a notice—
stating the general effect of the order;
specifying a place in the said area where a copy of the draft order may be inspected by any person free of charge at all reasonable hours during a period of twenty-eight days from the date of the first publication of the notice; and
stating that, within the said period, any person may by notice to the Secretary of State object to the application.
Not later than the date on which the said notice is first published, the applicants shall, if the Secretary of State so requires, serve a copy of the notice and of the draft order on any person specified by the Secretary of State.
The applicants shall also publish in the Gazette a notice stating that they are about to apply for an order under section 16 of this Act, naming the county and district in the locality wherein the assay office the subject of the order carries on or is intended to carry on business (as the case may be), specifying a place where a copy of the draft order may be inspected, and giving the name and date of issue of a local newspaper in which the notice explaining the effect of the order applied for will be found.
The applicants shall, at the request of any person interested, furnish to him a copy of the draft order upon payment of such charge as they think reasonable not exceeding fifty pence, or such higher sum as the Secretary of State may from time to time authorise in writing.
The Secretary of State may make an order in the terms of the draft submitted to him or in those terms as modified in such manner as he thinks fit, but where he proposes to make any modification which appears to him substantially to affect the character of the order as applied for, he shall take such steps as appear to him to be sufficient and reasonably practicable for informing the applicants and other persons likely to be concerned, and shall not make the order until such period for consideration of, and comment upon, the proposed modification as he thinks reasonable has elapsed.
If, before the expiration of the twenty-eight days referred to in paragraph 2 of this Part of this Schedule, or of twenty-five days from the publication of the said notice in the Gazette, or before the expiration of any period specified in notices given under the last foregoing paragraph, an objection is received by the Secretary of State from any person appearing to him to be affected by the application, or as the case may be, by the proposed modification, and the objection is not withdrawn, the Secretary of State, before making any order on the application, shall (unless he is of opinion that the objection is frivolous or too trivial to warrant the holding of an inquiry or hearing with respect to it) either—
cause a local inquiry to be held; or
afford to the objector and to the applicants, as well as to any other persons to whom it appears to the Secretary of State expedient to afford it, an opportunity of appearing before, and being heard by, a person appointed by the Secretary of State for the purpose.
On the making of an order to which this Part of this Schedule applies, the Secretary of State shall give notice of the making of the order and the effect thereof to any person who has objected thereto under the foregoing provisions of this Part of this Schedule, and has not withdrawn that objection, and in that case the order shall not have effect until the expiration of twenty-eight days from the date of the said notice, and if within that period any such person gives notice to the Secretary of State that he objects to the order and the objection is not withdrawn, the order shall be subject to special parliamentary procedure.
The costs incurred by the Secretary of State in connection with the making and notification of an order under this Part of this Schedule, including any costs incurred in relation to any such order under the Statutory Orders (Special Procedure) Act 1945, shall be paid by the applicants.
In this Part of this Schedule “the Gazette” means in relation to publication of a notice as respects an order concerning an assay office carrying on or intended to carry on business—
in England and Wales, the London Gazette;
in Scotland, the Edinburgh Gazette; and
in Northern Ireland, the Belfast Gazette.
For paragraph 1 and for the words in paragraph 2 before “shall publish” there shall be substituted—;
“6. The Secretary of State may make an order in the terms of the draft or in those terms as modified in such manner as he thinks fit, but where he proposes to make any modification which appears to him substantially to affect the character of the order he shall take such steps as appear to him to be sufficient and reasonably practicable for informing persons likely to be concerned, and shall not make the order until such period for consideration of, and comment upon, the proposed modification as he thinks reasonable has elapsed”;
Paragraphs 3 and 9 shall be omitted;
In paragraphs 4 and 5 for reference to the applicants there shall be substituted reference to the Secretary of State;
For paragraph 6 there shall be substituted the following paragraph—
in paragraph 7—
for the word “application” where it first occurs there shall be substituted the word “order”;
the words “on the application” shall be omitted;
in paragraph (b) for the words “the applicants” there shall be substituted the words “such of them the Council and any assay office as might have been applicants for such an order under section 16(1) of this Act” ’.
Section 23.
Chapter Title or Short Title Extent of repeal 8 & 9 Will. 3. c. 8. 1696. An Act for encouraging the bringing in wrought plate to be coined. The whole Act. 1 Anne c. 3. 1702. An Act for continuing the Act made in the eighth year of His late Majesty’s reign for better preventing the counterfeiting the current coin of this kingdom. The whole Act. 6 Geo. 1. c. 11. The Plate Duty Act 1719. The whole Act. 12 Geo. 2. c. 26. The Plate (Offences) Act 1738. The whole Act. 15 Geo. 2. c. 20. The Gold and Silver Thread Act 1741. The whole Act. 13 Geo. 3. c. 59. The Plate (Offences) Act 1772. The whole Act. 28 Geo. 3. c. 7. The Gold and Silver Thread Act 1788. The whole Act. 30 Geo. 3. c. 31. The Silver Plate Act 1790. The whole Act. 38 Geo. 3. c. 69. The Gold Plate (Standard) Act 1798. The whole Act. 47 Geo. 3. Sess. 2. c. 15. The Plate Assay (Ireland) Act 1807. The whole Act. 6 & 7 Will. 4. c. 69. The Plate (Scotland) Act 1836. The whole Act. 5 & 6 Vict. c. 47. The Customs Act 1842. The whole Act. 7 & 8 Vict. c. 22. The Gold and Silver Wares Act 1844. The whole Act. 17 & 18 Vict. c. 96. The Gold and Silver Wares Act 1854. The whole Act. 18 & 19 Vict. c. 60. The Wedding Rings Act 1855. The whole Act. 39 & 40 Vict. c. 36. The Customs Consolidation Act 1876. In section 42, the words from “Clocks and watches” to “United Kingdom”. 46 & 47 Vict. c. 55. The Revenue Act 1883. Sections 10 and 11. 47 & 48 Vict. c. 62. The Revenue Act 1884. Sections 4 and 5. 53 & 54 Vict. c. 8. The Customs and Inland Revenue Act 1890. Section 17. 4 Edw. 7. c. 6. The Hall-marking of Foreign Plate Act 1904. The whole Act. 7 Edw. 7. c. 8. The Assay of Imported Watch-Cases (Existing Stocks Exemption) Act 1907. The whole Act. 7 Edw. 7. c. 13. The Finance Act 1907. Section 5. 3 & 4 Geo. 5. c. 27. The Forgery Act 1913. Sections 5(4)(b), 8(2)(a) and 16(2)(d). Section 6, so far as it relates to any die used for the marking or stamping of gold or silver plate, or gold or silver wares. 2 & 3 Geo. 6. c. 36. The Hall-marking of Foreign Plate Act 1939. The whole Act. 14 & 15 Geo. 6. c. 39. The Common Informers Act 1951. In the Schedule, the entries relating to 8 & 9 Will. 3. c. 8; 12 Geo. 2. c. 26; 15 Geo. 2. c. 20; 13 Geo. c. 52; 28 Geo. 3. c. 7; and 38 Geo. 3. c. 69. 15 & 16 Geo. 6. & 1 Eliz. 2. c. 44. The Customs and Excise Act 1952. In Schedule 10, in Part II, paragraphs 1, 2 and 6.
Chapter Title or Short Title Extent of repeal 1 Geo. 3. c. 9.(Ir.). The Gold and Silver Thread Act (Ireland) 1761. The whole Act. 23 & 24 Geo. 3. c. 23 (Ir.) (1783). An Act to regulate the assay of gold and promote the manufacture of gold and silver wares in this kingdom. The whole Act.
Chapter Title or Short Title Extent of Repeal 8 & 9 Will. 3. c. 8. 1696. An Act for encouraging the bringing in wrought plate to be coined. The whole Act. 1 Anne c. 3. 1702. An Act for continuing the Act made in the eighth year of His late Majesty's reign for better preventing the counterfeiting the current coin of this kingdom. The whole Act. 6 Geo. I. c. 11. The Plate Duty Act 1719. The whole Act. 12 Geo. 2. c. 26. The Plate (Offences) Act 1738. The whole Act 15 Geo. 2. c. 20. The Gold and Silver Thread Act 1741. The whole Act. 13 Geo. 3. c. 59. The Plate (Offences) Act 1772. The whole Act. 28 Geo. 3. c. 7. The Gold and Silver Thread Act 1788. The whole Act. 30 Geo. 3. c. 31. The Silver Plate Act 1790. The whole Act. 38 Geo. 3. c. 69. The Gold Plate (Standard) Act 1798. The whole Act. 47 Geo. 3. Sess. 2. c. 15. The Plate Assay (Ireland) Act 1807. The whole Act. 6 & 7 WE 4. c. 69. The Plate (Scotland) Act 1836. The whole Act. 5 & 6 Vict. c. 47. The Customs Act 1842. The whole Act. 7 & 8 Vict. c. 22. The Gold and Silver Wares Act 1844. The whole Act. 17 & 18 Vict. c. 96. The Gold and Silver Wares Act 1854. The whole Act. 18 & 19 Vict. c. 60. The Wedding Rings Act 1855. The whole Act. 39 & 40 Vict. c. 36. The Customs Consolidation Act 1876. In section 42, the words from “Clocks and watches” to “United Kingdom ”. 46 & 47 Vict. c. 55. The Revenue Act 1883. Sections 10 and 11. 47 & 48 Vict. c. 62. The Revenue Act 1884. Sections 4 and 5. 53 & 54 Vict. c. 8. The Customs and Inland Revenue Act 1890. Section 17. 4 Edw. 7. c. 6. The Hall-marking of Foreign Plate Act 1904. The whole Act. 7 Edw. 7. c. 8. The Assay of Imported Watch-Cases (Existing Stocks Exemption) Act 1907. The whole Act. 7 Edw. 7. c. 13. The Finance Act 1907. Section 5. 3 & 4 Geo. 5. c. 27. The Forgery Act 1913. Sections 5(4)(b), 8(2)(a) and 16(2)(d). Section 6, so far as it relates to any die used for the marking or stamping of gold or silver plate, or gold or silver wares. 2 & 3 Geo. 6. c. 36. The Hall-marking of Foreign Plate Act 1939. The whole Act. 14 & 15 Geo. 6. c. 39. The Common Informers Act 1951. In the Schedule, the entries relating to 8 & 9 Will. 3. c. 8; 12 Geo. 2. c. 26; 15 Geo. 2. c. 20; 13 Geo. 3. c. 52; 28 Geo. 3. c. 7; and 38 Geo. 3. c.69. 15 & 16 Geo. 6. & 1 Eliz. 2. c. 44. The Customs and Excise Act 1952. In Schedule 10, in Part II, paragraphs 1, 2 and 6. Chapter Title or Short Title Extent of Repeal 1 Geo. 3. c. 9. (Ir.). The Gold and Silver Thread Act (Ireland) 1761. The whole Act. 23 & 24 Geo. 3. c. 23 (Ir.) (1783). An Act to regulate the assay of gold and promote the manufacture of gold and silver wares in this kingdom. The whole Act.
Chapter Title or Short Title Extent of repeal 13 Geo. 3. c. 52. The Plate (Sheffield and Birmingham) Act 1772. Sections 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25 and 26. 24 Geo. 3. c. 20. The Plate Assay (Sheffield) Act 1784. The whole Act. 59 Geo. 3. c. xxviii. The Glasgow Assay Office Act 1819. The whole Act. 5 Geo. 4. c. lii. The Birmingham Assay Office Act 1824. Sections 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41. 6 Edw. 7. c. ix. The Sheffield Assay Act 1906. Section 6. 8 & 9 Geo. 5. c. lxi. The Sheffield Corporation (Consolidation) Act 1918. Sections 501 and 502. 16 & 17 Geo. 5. c. cx. The Glasgow Goldsmiths Company Order Confirmation Act 1926. The whole Act.
Chapter Title or Short Title Extent of Repeal 13 Geo. 3. c. 52. The Plate (Sheffield and Birmingham) Act 1772. Sections 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25 and 26. 24 Geo. 3. c. 20. The Plate Assay (Sheffield) Act 1784. The whole Act. 59 Geo. 3. c. xxviii. The Glasgow Assay Office Act 1819. The whole Act. 5 Geo. 4. c. lii. The Birmingham Assay Office Act 1824. Sections 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41. 6 Edw. 7. c. ix. The Sheffield Assay Act 1906. Section 6. 8 & 9 Geo. 5. c. lxi. The Sheffield Corporation (Consolidation) Act 1918. Sections 501 and 502. 16 & 17 Geo. 5. c. cx. The Glasgow Goldsmiths Company Order Confirmation Act 1926. The whole Act.
An article comprised of two or more precious metals shall be hallmarked only if— it is of a description specified in one or other of the following sub-paragraphs ; and it complies with paragraph 5 of this Schedule,
Assay office mark Assay office Assay office mark (1) (2) London... A leopard’s head Edinburgh... A castle Birmingham... An anchor Sheffield... A rose
(where the context so admits) a body which, whilst it has been so authorised at any time before or after the passing of this Act, has since being so authorised been dissolved or has ceased business in such assaying and hallmarking;
“sponsor’s mark” means—
“unhallmarked” has the meaning given by section 2(4) of this Act.
a mark struck on an article in an EEA State other than the United Kingdom before exit day which indicates the manufacturer or sponsor of the article;
a sponsor’s mark applied under section 3 of this Act, or under the corresponding provisions of the law in force in the United Kingdom before section 3 of this Act came into force; or
“new ware” means—
any article which has been the subject of any improper alteration;
“mark” means any mark of the nature of a sponsor’s mark or hallmark.
For the purposes of subsection (1) above, a person utters any counterfeit die or article bearing a counterfeit of a mark if, knowing or believing the die or mark, as the case may be, to be a counterfeit, he supplies, offers to supply, or delivers the die or article.
Sections 5(4)(b), 8(2)(a) and 16(2)(d) of the Forgery Act 1913, and so much of section 6 of that Act as relates to any die used for the marking or stamping of gold or silver plate, or gold or silver wares, shall cease to have effect.
Subject to subsection (2) of this section, an assay office may at their discretion cancel, or obliterate any mark of the character of a hallmark (whether appearing to be an approved hallmark or to be a mark which in the opinion of the assay office is likely to be confused with such a hallmark) which an article coming into their custody or possession bears and which the assay office are satisfied—
has not been struck thereon by an assay office according to law; or
is not a true description because the article appears to have been the subject of an improper alteration.
Notwithstanding anything in any enactment, an assay office shall not, otherwise than by leave of the owner or other person appearing to have the control of any article, obliterate any ancient mark but shall cancel the same in a manner authorised under subsection (3) of this section.
The Council may issue directions to assay offices as to the manner in which an ancient mark may be cancelled under the last foregoing subsection.
If it be proved that an assay office have— the assay office (but not any other person) shall be liable in damages to any person interested in the article.
cancelled, or obliterated any mark (as described in subsection (1) of this section), which has been struck by an assay office according to law on an article which has not been the subject of an improper alteration; or
obliterated any ancient mark upon an article,
In any action brought against an assay office in pursuance of subsection (4) of this section it shall be a defence for them to prove that they had reasonable cause to believe that the circumstances specified respectively in paragraphs (a) or (b) of that subsection did not exist.
It shall be an offence for any person knowingly or any dealer to supply or offer to supply any article bearing any mark of the character of a hallmark and which under subsection (1) of this section may, if the article is in the possession of an assay office, be cancelled, obliterated or defaced, unless the article has been first submitted to an assay office to enable them at their discretion so to cancel, obliterate or deface that mark.
In this section “ancient mark” means a mark of the character of a hallmark appearing to an assay office to have been struck or incorporated before 22nd December 1854 (whether or not by an assay office according to law at the time of its marking or incorporation) upon or into an article which has not since been the subject of any improper alteration.
The provisions of Schedule 3 to this Act shall have effect in relation to offences under this Act.
It shall be the duty of every local weights and measures authority to enforce the provisions of this Act within their area; and section 26 of the Act of 1968 (enforcing authorities) shall apply in relation to the enforcement of this Act, by such an authority, as it applies in relation to the enforcement of that Act.
The Council and the assay offices may also enforce the provisions of this Act.
For the investigatory powers available to a local weights and measures authority, the Council and an assay office for the purposes of the duty in subsection (1) and the power in subsection (2), see Schedule 5 to the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
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Nothing in this section shall be taken as authorising the Council or an assay office to institute proceedings in Scotland for an offence.
Subsection (1) above shall not apply in relation to the enforcement of this Act in Northern Ireland but, in addition to the power given by subsection (2) above, it shall be the duty of the Ministry of Commerce for Northern Ireland to enforce this Act in Northern Ireland.
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Upon the conviction of any person of an offence under this Act the court may order any article the subject of the proceedings to be delivered to an assay office who (subject to the order) may exercise the like powers under this Act in relation to the article as if it had been submitted to them for hallmarking.
Any article delivered to an assay office pursuant to such an order as is mentioned in subsection (1) of this section shall be returned to the person entitled thereto.
Any dealer shall keep exhibited at all times, in a conspicuous position in a part of his premises to which those with whom he deals are commonly admitted, a notice in terms approved and in a form supplied by the Council describing such approved hallmarks and including such explanatory matter as the Council think fit; and it shall be an offence for any dealer to fail to exhibit or keep exhibited a notice required to be exhibited under this subsection.
The Council may make a reasonable charge for the supply of any copy of a notice required to be exhibited under this section.
Every assay office shall have power to make charges for assaying and hallmarking articles of precious metals not exceeding (in the case of articles manufactured in, or intended for sale or supply in, the United Kingdom) such charges as are for the time being directed in writing by the Council: Provided that the Secretary of State may from time to time give to the Council and to assay offices such directions as he considers expedient in relation to charges made under this subsection.
Subject to subsection (1) of this section, every assay office shall have power to make for services and facilities provided by them such charges as they from time to time think fit.
There shall be constituted a body, to be called the British Hallmarking Council, who shall be charged with the duty of ensuring that adequate facilities for the assaying and hallmarking of articles of precious metal are available as from time to time required in the United Kingdom, of supervising the activities of assay offices in that behalf, of taking all steps appearing to be open to them for ensuring the enforcement of the law with respect to hallmarking and of advising the Secretary of State with respect to all matters concerning the due execution of this Act including any matter which may be referred to the Council by the Secretary of State.
The Council shall come into existence on 1st January 1974 and on and after 1st January 1975 shall perform the functions assigned to them by or under this Act.
Schedule 4 to this Act shall have effect with respect to the Council.
Without prejudice to the last preceding subsection, the Council shall, in addition to the functions specifically conferred on them by or under any other provisions of this Act, have the following functions—
to advise the Secretary of State as they think fit with respect to the making of orders and regulations under this Act, and with respect to the amendment of the law as it affects, whether directly or indirectly, the hallmarking of articles of precious metal, including advice as to the application of some or all of the provisions of this Act to any metal other than gold, silver and platinum;
subject to any directions in that behalf given by the Secretary of State, to fix the maximum charges for the time being to be charged by assay offices for assaying and hallmarking articles of precious metal manufactured in or intended for sale in the United Kingdom;
to advise the Secretary of State upon any need appearing to the Council from time to time for the establishment of any further assay office or for the closure of any assay office or for their amalgamation with another assay office;
to assist, by the provision of such technical and other services of the Council as may be available, all authorities and persons concerned in the enforcement of this Act, to appoint such officers as the Council consider appropriate to act as inspectors and otherwise for the detecting of offences and enforcing this Act by or on behalf of the Council, and, otherwise than in Scotland, to institute proceedings in that behalf;
to authorise any assay office to carry on their business in whole or in part (subject to any conditions which may be specified by the Council in so authorising) in such place , whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere, as may be specified by the Council additional to the place at which the assay office are otherwise authorised;
to make temporary or permanent arrangements by directions, or to authorise the making of such arrangements between assay offices, whereby (notwithstanding anything in any enactment) facilities specified in any case by the Council need not be afforded at an assay office but are afforded at another or others;
to issue directions or regulations to all assay offices or, as the case may require, to any assay office in particular, as to the equipment and procedures to be provided and adopted by them in the assaying and hallmarking of precious metals and as to all other matters upon which such directions or regulations may be issued by the Council under the provisions of this Act; and
subject to such provisions of this Act as confer powers in particular on the Council, to do anything which in their opinion is calculated to facilitate the proper discharge of any or all of their functions.
It shall be the duty of an assay office to comply with directions and regulations issued by the Council pursuant to paragraph (f) or paragraph (g) of subsection (2) of this section: Provided that any assay office who are aggrieved by any such direction or regulation may make written representation in that behalf to the Secretary of State who may determine all issues which may be raised upon any such representation; and it shall be the duty of the Council to comply with any determination so made by the Secretary of State.
All directions, regulations, authorities, notices or other instruments given or made by the Council under or in pursuance of any provision of this Act shall be in writing and may be so given or made under the hand of the secretary or other officer of the Council authorised in that behalf.
If the Council consider, after consulting all the assay offices, that having regard to— any or all of the provisions of Schedule 4 to this Act are no longer appropriate and that alterations, additions or omissions thereto or therefrom should be made, the Council may make representation in that behalf to the Secretary of State, specifying the alterations, additions or omissions to or from the said Schedule which they consider should be made.
the establishment of a new assay office, the dissolution of any assay office or their amalgamation with another assay office; or
other substantial changes which have taken place or are to take place in the functions, administration or activities of any assay office; or
any other considerations (whether or not of a like character to those above-mentioned) appearing to the Council sufficient,
If the Secretary of State agrees with any representation so made to him, or if, having regard to the matters mentioned in the foregoing subsection, he considers it expedient to do so after consultation with the Council and despite the absence of any such representation, he may, subject to subsection (3) of this section, by order provide that there be made such alterations, additions or omissions to or from the said Schedule (whether or not the same as those specified in a representation where one has been made to him) as may be specified in the order.
An order made under this section may contain such transitional, incidental and supplementary provisions (including in a case falling within paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of this section provision for the winding up of any existing assay office and for the repeal of any local statutory provision relating to that assay office) as the Secretary of State considers expedient.
The provisions of Schedule 5 to this Act shall have effect with respect to the powers and duties of assay offices.
Without prejudice to the provisions of section 7 of and of Schedule 5 to this Act, nothing contained in this Act shall render any assay office liable as respects any damage caused by them to any article in the reasonable exercise or (as the case may be) discharge of any of the powers and duties conferred or imposed upon them by this Act.
The Secretary of State may at any time by order—
on the application of the Council, provide for the constitution of an assay office at such place as may be specified in the order; or
on the application of the Council, provide for the closure and dissolution of any assay office or their amalgamation with another assay office; or
on the application of an assay office, confer, vary or abolish duties or powers imposed or conferred on the assay office under any local statutory provision affecting their undertaking and for that purpose repeal or amend any such provision.
The Secretary of State may, without such application to him as aforesaid, if he thinks fit and after consultation with the Council and any assay office appearing to him to be concerned, make an order for any of the purposes mentioned in subsection (1) of this section.
Any order made under this section may contain such incidental, consequential and supplementary provisions as the Secretary of State thinks necessary or expedient for the purposes of the order, including provisions for the amendment, adaptation or repeal of any local statutory provision.
The provisions of Part I of Schedule 6 to this Act shall have effect with respect to orders under subsection (1) of this section upon application therefor to the Secretary of State; and the provisions of the said Part I shall, subject to the modifications specified in Part II of the said Schedule, have effect with respect to orders under subsection (2) of this section by the Secretary of State without such application being made to him.
The Secretary of State may at any time by order, either on the application of the Council or, if the Secretary of State thinks fit, of his own volition after consultation with the Council, apply the provisions of this Act (or such of them as may be specified in any such order) to any other metal than gold, silver and platinum and subject to such amendments and adaptations as in the order may be specified.
Any order made under this section may contain such incidental, consequential and supplementary provisions as the Secretary of State thinks necessary or expedient for the purposes of the order, including provisions applying, extending, excluding or amending, or repealing or revoking, with or without savings, any provisions of this Act or an instrument under this Act.
Any local statutory provision which is inconsistent with any provision of this Act shall cease to have effect.
The Secretary of State may on the application of an assay office, or, if he thinks fit, of his own volition, but in either case subject to the provisions of this section, by order repeal or amend any local statutory provision where it appears to him that that provision is inconsistent with, or has become unnecessary in consequence of, any provision of this Act.
Before making an order under this section the Secretary of State shall consult with any person or body representative of persons who appear to him to be concerned.
An order under this section may contain such transitional, supplemental or incidental provisions as appear to the Secretary of State to be expedient.
The Council shall, as soon as practicable after 31st December in each year, make to the Secretary of State a report on the performance by them of their functions during the period of twelve months ending with that date.
The report of the Council for any period under the last preceding subsection shall include a record of all questions with which the Council have been concerned during that period and which appear to the Council to be of general interest.
As soon as the accounts of the Council have been audited, the Council shall send a copy of the accounts to the Secretary of State; and a copy of the accounts shall be kept at the office of the Council and any person interested shall be entitled, free of charge, to inspect and to take copies of, or extracts from, the copy of the accounts.
Any person, on application to the Council, shall be entitled to be furnished with copies of reports of the Council under this section and of statements summarising the accounts of the Council, on payment of such reasonable sums as the Council may determine.
The Secretary of State may cause a local inquiry to be held in connection with the discharge of any of his functions under this Act or in any case where it appears to the Secretary of State to be expedient to do so in connection with any matter arising under this Act or otherwise in connection with any of the functions of assay offices or the Council, and—
in relation to any inquiry held in England or Wales, subsections (2) to (5) of section 250 of the Local Government Act 1972 (evidence and costs at local inquiries), but subsection (4) (costs of department) only in a case where the Secretary of State so directs, shall apply as if the inquiry were held in pursuance of subsection (1) of that section;
in relation to any inquiry held in Scotland, subsections (2) to (8) of section 210 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (provisions as to local inquiries) shall apply as if the inquiry were held in pursuance of subsection (1) of that section; and
in relation to any inquiry held in Northern Ireland, section 23 of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 (inquiries and investigations) shall apply as if this Act were an enactment, and the Secretary of State were a Minister, within the meaning of that Act.
The person appointed to hold an inquiry under the preceding subsection shall report the results thereof in writing to the Secretary of State, who shall publish the report together with such observations, if any, as he thinks fit to make thereon.
The Secretary of State may make regulations under this Act for any purpose for which regulations are authorised or required to be made by him under this Act.
Any such power to make regulations under this Act shall be exercisable by statutory instrument; and any instrument containing any such regulations shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
Any power conferred by this Act to make an order shall include a power to vary or revoke the order by a subsequent order.
Any power to make orders under this Act shall be exercisable by statutory instrument.
An order shall not be made under section 17 of this Act unless a draft of the order has been approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.
Any statutory instrument containing an order under section 14 of this Act shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
“functions ” includes powers and duties ;
References in this Act to an assay office shall, as respects an assay office who are engaged in the business of an assay office and who carry on any other activity, include reference to so much only of the undertaking of that assay office as relates wholly to their business as such an assay office and as may be certified in that behalf by that assay office.
References in this Act to any enactment shall be construed as references to that enactment as amended or extended by or under any other enactment including this Act.
The enactments specified in Schedule 7 to this Act are hereby repealed to the extent specified in the third column of that Schedule.
This Act may be cited as the Hallmarking Act 1973.
Section 13 of and Schedule 4 to this Act shall come into operation on 1st January 1974 and the remainder of this Act shall come into operation on 1st January 1975.
This Act extends to Northern Ireland . . . .
Act wholly in force at 1. 1. 1975 see s. 24(2) The text of s. 23 and Sch. 7 is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991. The text of s. 23 and Sch. 7 is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991. Words in s. 1(1)(a) substituted (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 2 S. 1(4) repealed (26.5.2008) by The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/1277), reg. 30(1)(3), Sch. 2 para. 16(2), Sch. 4 Pt. 1 (with reg. 28(2)(3)) S. 1(4A)-(4D) inserted (26.5.2008) by The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/1277), reg. 30(1), Sch. 2 para. 16(3) (with reg. 28(2)(3)) Words in s. 1(4C) substituted (6.4.2025) by Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), s. 339(1), Sch. 21 para. 3(a) (with ss. 235, 243, 252); S.I. 2025/272, reg. 2(1)(12) Words in s. 1(4D) substituted (6.4.2025) by Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), s. 339(1), Sch. 21 para. 3(b) (with ss. 235, 243, 252); S.I. 2025/272, reg. 2(1)(12) S. 2(1)(aa) inserted (8.2.2013) by The Legislative Reform (Hallmarking) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/251), arts. 1(2), 3 S. 2(1)(d) and preceding word inserted (1.1.1999) by S.I. 1998/2978, reg. 2(2). Words in s. 2(1)(d) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 2(a) (as amended by S.I. 2020/676, regs. 1(1), 3); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1) Words in s. 2(2) inserted (1.1.1999) by S.I. 1998/2978, reg. 2(3). S. 2(2A) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 2(b) (as amended by S.I. 2020/676, regs. 1(1), 3); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1) Words in s. 2(3) substituted (1.1.1999) by S.I. 1998/2978, reg. 2(5). Words in s. 2(5)(c) inserted (1.1.1999) by S.I. 1998/2978, reg. 2(6). Words in s. 3(3)(a) omitted (8.2.2013) by virtue of The Legislative Reform (Hallmarking) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/251), arts. 1(2), 4 S. 4(1)(a)(iii)(iv)(v) substituted (1.1.1999) for s. 4(1)(a)(iii) and the word “and” immediately preceding it by S.I. 1998/2978, reg. 2(7). S. 4(2) substituted (1.1.1999) for s. 4(1A)(2) by S.I. 1998/2978, reg. 2(8). Words inserted by S.I. 1986/1757, reg. 2(b) Words substituted by S.I. 1986/1757, reg. 2(c) S. 4(3)(b)(iv) inserted (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 3 Words inserted by S.I. 1986/1757, reg. 2 (d) S. 4(3A) inserted (6.4.2007) by The Hallmarking Act 1973 (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/872), reg. 2(3) S. 4(4) omitted (1.1.1999) by S.I. 1998/2978, reg. 2(11). S. 4A inserted (8.2.2013) by The Legislative Reform (Hallmarking) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/251), arts. 1(2), 5 Words in s. 5(4)(c)(i) substituted (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 4(2) S. 5(5)(aa) inserted (8.2.2013) by The Legislative Reform (Hallmarking) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/251), arts. 1(2), 6(a) Words in s. 5(5)(c) inserted (8.2.2013) by The Legislative Reform (Hallmarking) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/251), arts. 1(2), 6(b) Words in s. 5(5)(c) inserted (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 4(3)(a) S. 5(5)(ca)(cb) inserted (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 4(3)(b) S. 5(5)(cc) added (8.2.2013) by The Legislative Reform (Hallmarking) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/251), arts. 1(2), 6(c) Words in s. 5(5)(d) substituted (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 4(3)(c) S. 9(2A) inserted (1.10.2015) by Consumer Rights Act 2015 (c. 15), s. 100(5), Sch. 6 para. 10(2); S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(i) S. 9(3) omitted (1.10.2015) by virtue of Consumer Rights Act 2015 (c. 15), s. 100(5), Sch. 6 para. 10(3); S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(i) (with art. 8) S. 9(4) omitted (1.10.2015) by virtue of Consumer Rights Act 2015 (c. 15), s. 100(5), Sch. 6 para. 10(3); S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(i) (with art. 8) S. 9(7) omitted (1.10.2015) by virtue of Consumer Rights Act 2015 (c. 15), s. 100(5), Sch. 6 para. 10(3); S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(i) (with art. 8) Words in s. 13(2)(e) inserted (8.2.2013) by The Legislative Reform (Hallmarking) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/251), arts. 1(2), 7 Words substituted by Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (c. 65, SIF 81:2), Sch. 27 Pt. II para. 209 Definition in s. 22(1) inserted (1.1.1999) by S.I. 1998/2978, reg. 2(12). Figures in s. 22(1) substituted (1.1.1999) by S.I. 1998/2978, reg. 2(13). Word in s. 22(1) omitted (22.7.2009) by virtue of Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 5(a) Words in s. 22(1) inserted (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 5(b) S. 22(1)(c) and the word “or” immediately preceding it inserted (1.1.1999) by S.I. 1998/2978, reg. 2(14). Words in s. 22(1) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 3 (as amended by S.I. 2020/676, regs. 1(1), 3); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1) Words repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1977 (c. 18), Sch. 1 Pt. XIII Sch. 1 Pt. 1 para. 1(1)(d) inserted (22.7.2009) by The Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 6(2) Sch. 1 Pt. II para. 5 substituted by S.I. 1975/1883, Sch. para. 1 Words in Sch. 1 para. 6 substituted (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 6(3) Sch. 1 para. 9A inserted (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 6(4) Para. 10 substituted by S.I. 1975/1883, Sch. para. 2 Sch. 1 Pt. 2: words in para. 10(b) substituted (6.4.2007) by The Hallmarking Act 1973 (Exemption) (Amendment) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/880), art. 2(2) Words inserted by S.I. 1986/1758, art. 2(a) Para. 12 substituted by S.I. 1982/256, art. 2 Words inserted by S.I. 1986/1758, art. 2(b) Words in Sch. 1 Pt. 2 para. 12(1) inserted (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 6(5) Sch. 1 Pt. 2 para. 12(2) substituted (1.10.2007) by The Hallmarking Act 1973 (Exemption) (Amendment No. 2) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/2493), art. 2(2) Sch. 1 Pt. 2 para. 12(3) repealed (1.10.2007) by The Hallmarking Act 1973 (Exemption) (Amendment No. 2) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/2493), art. 2(3) Sch. 1 Pt. 2 paras. 12A-12C inserted (1.10.2007) by The Hallmarking Act 1973 (Exemption) (Amendment No. 2) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/2493), art. 2(4) Words in Sch. 1 Pt. 2 para. 12A(2)(a) substituted (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 6(6) Sch. 1 para. 12D inserted (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 6(7) Para. 13 substituted by S.I. 1975/1883, Sch. para. 4 Words inserted by S.I. 1986/1758, art. 2(a)(c) Words added by S.I. 1986/1758, art. 2(a)(c) Words inserted by S.I. 1986/1758, art. 2(a) Para. 14A substituted by S.I. 1982/256, art. 2 Words inserted by S.I. 1986/1758, art. 2(b) Sch. 1 para. 14A(2) substituted (1.10.2007) by The Hallmarking Act 1973 (Exemption) (Amendment No. 2) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/2493), art. 2(5) Sch. 1 para. 14A(3) repealed (1.10.2007) by The Hallmarking Act 1973 (Exemption) (Amendment No. 2) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/2493), art. 2(6) Sch. 1 Pt. II para. 14AA inserted by S.I. 1986/1758, art. 2(d) Sch. 1 Pt. II para. 14AA inserted by S.I. 1986/1758, art. 2(d) Sch. 1 Pt. II para. 14B repealed by S.I. 1982/256, art. 3 Words in Sch. 1 Pt. 3 substituted (26.5.2008) by The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/1277), reg. 30(1), Sch. 2 para. 16(4) (with reg. 28(2)(3)) Words in Sch. 1 Pt. 3 para. 1 substituted (6.4.2025) by The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/381), reg. 1(2), Sch. para. 4 Sch. 2 Pt. I substituted (1.1.1999) by S.I. 1998/2978, reg. 2(15). Sch. 2 Pt. I substituted (1.1.1999) by S.I. 1998/2978, reg. 2(15). Words in Sch. 2 Pt. 1 para. 2 inserted (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 7(2) Words in Sch. 2 Pt. 1 para. 3 inserted (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 7(3) Sch. 2 Pt. I substituted (1.1.1999) by S.I. 1998/2978, reg. 2(15). Sch. 2 Pt. I substituted (1.1.1999) by S.I. 1998/2978, reg. 2(15). Sch. 2 Pts. 2, 3 substituted (6.4.2007) by The Hallmarking Act 1973 (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/872), reg. 2(6), Sch. Words in Sch. 2 para. 13 substituted (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 7(4) Words in Sch. 2 para. 14 substituted (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 7(5) Sch. 2 Pt. 2 para. 15(a) substituted (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 7(6) Words in Sch. 2 Pt. 3 para. 19(a) substituted (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 1, Sch. para. 7(7) Sch. 2 Pt. 4: para. 7 renumbered (6.4.2007) as para. 20 by The Hallmarking Act 1973 (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/872), reg. 2(7) Sch. 3 para. 2(2) repealed (E.W.) by Criminal Law Act 1977 (c. 45, SIF 39:1) s. 65, Sch. 13 Sch. 3 para. 2(4) repealed by S.I. 1980/704 (N.I. 6), Sch. 2 Words repealed (E.W.) by Criminal Law Act 1977 (c. 45, SIF 39:1), s. 65, Sch. 13 Words in Sch. 4 para. 19(1) omitted (23.5.2003) by virtue of The Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 (Audit of Public Bodies) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1326), art. 8(2) Sch. 4 para. 19(1A)-(1D) inserted (23.5.2003) by The Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 (Audit of Public Bodies) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1326), art. 8(3) Schedule 4 para. 19(2) substitued (1. 10. 1991) by S.I. 1991/1997, regs. 2, 4, Sch. para.22 Words in Sch 4 para. 19(2) substituted (6.4.2008) by The Companies Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments etc) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/948), arts. 2(2), 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 1(l) (with arts. 6, 11, 12) Act modified (19.7.1995) by 1995 c. v, s. 3 and by 1995 c. vi, s. 3. Act modified (29.2.1996) by 1996 c. i, s. 1, Sch. para. 3. Act modified (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 2(1) S. 4 modified by S.I. 1976/730, art. 5(2), 6 (which S.I. was revoked (1.4.2002) by S.I. 2002/506, art. 1(2)) S. 4 modified (1.4.2002) by The Hallmarking (International Convention) Order 2002 (S.I. 2002/506), arts. 5(2), 6 Reference to Ministry of Commerce for Northern Ireland in s. 9(6) to be construed as reference to Department of Economic Development by virtue of Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36, SIF 29:3), Sch. 5 para. 8(1) and S.I. 1982/846 (N.I. 11), art. 4, 5 S. 16(1)(c) modified (19.7.1995) by 1995 c. v, s. 3 and by 1995 c. vi, s. 3. S. 16(1)(c) modified (19.7.1995) by 1995 c. v, s. 5(4) and by 1995 c. vi, s. 5(5). S. 16(1)(c) modified (retrospectively) (29.2.1996) by 1996 c. i, s. 1, Sch. para. 3. S. 16(1)(c) modified (29.2.1996) by 1996 c. i, s. 1, Sch. para. 5(5). S. 22(2) excluded (19.7.1995) by 1995 c. v, s. 5(4) and by 1995 c. vi, s. 5(5). S. 22(2) excluded (29.2.1996) by 1996 c. i, s. 1, Sch. para. 5(5). Sch. 2 Pt. 1 para. 1 modified (1.4.2002) by The Hallmarking (International Convention) Order 2002 (S.I. 2002/506), art. 6(3) 1913 c. 27. 1972 c. 70(81:1). 1973 c. 65(81:2). 1954 c. 33 (N.I.) 1968 c. 29(109:1). 1952 c. 55. 1954 c. 48(39:1). 1945 c. 18 An Act to make fresh provision for the composition, assaying, marking and description of articles of, or containing, precious metals, and as to agencies for the implementation and enforcement thereof; and for purposes connected with those matters.
Subject to the provisions of this Act, any person who, in the course of a trade or business— shall be guilty of an offence.
applies to an unhallmarked article a description indicating that it is wholly or partly made of gold, silver , platinum or palladium, or
supplies, or offers to supply, an unhallmarked article to which such a description is applied,
Subsection (1) above shall not apply to a description which is permitted by Part I of Schedule 1 to this Act.
Subsection (1) above shall not apply to an article within Part II of the said Schedule.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Subsection (4B) applies in any case where—
the giving of a description of the fineness (whether in parts per thousand or otherwise) of any precious metal constitutes advertising within the meaning of the Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008, and
the description is false to any extent or degree (except by understating the fineness).
Part III of the said Schedule shall apply for construing descriptions relating to the fineness of precious metals.
In any such case, the giving of the description is to be treated as satisfying the requirements of regulation 3(2) of those Regulations (requirements for advertising to be misleading).
The provisions of this section have effect subject to Part IV of the said Schedule.
Subsection (4D) applies in any case where—
the giving of a description of the fineness (whether in parts per thousand or otherwise) of any precious metal constitutes a commercial practice within the meaning of Chapter 1 of Part 4 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, and
the description is false to any extent or degree (except by understating the fineness).
For the purposes of this section—
“advertisement” includes a catalogue, a circular and a price list,
section 4 of the Act of 1968 (which defines “applies a trade description”) shall apply to paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1), for the interpretation of references to a description being applied to any article, as it applies for the interpretation of references in that Act to applying a trade description,
a person exposing articles for supply, or having articles in his possession for supply, “offers to supply” them.
In any such case, the giving of the description is to be treated as an unfair commercial practice involving a misleading action for the purposes of that Chapter.
Where in an advertisement a description is used in relation to any class of articles, the description shall be taken as referring to all articles of the class, whether or not in existence at the time the advertisement is published— and section 5(3) of the Act of 1968 (defining goods of the class in question) shall apply for determining whether any articles are of a class to which a description used in an advertisement relates.
for the purpose of determining whether an offence has been committed under subsection (1)(a) above, and
where articles of the class are supplied or offered to be supplied by a person publishing or displaying the advertisement, also for the purpose of determining whether an offence has been committed under subsection (1)(b) above;
Section 39(2) of the Act of 1968 (descriptions in publications or broadcasts) shall apply for the purposes of this section.
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, “approved hallmarks” means—
marks struck by an assay office in the United Kingdom, whether before or after the commencement of this Act, under the law for the time being in force, or
marks struck outside the United Kingdom by an assay office under this Act, or
marks struck by the Wardens and Commonalty of Goldsmiths of the City of Dublin before 1st April 1923, or
marks struck by an assay office under the law of a country outside the United Kingdom, being marks designated for the purposes of this section by order of the Secretary of State as marks recognised pursuant to any international convention or treaty to which Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom is a party , or
marks struck in an EEA State other than the United Kingdom before exit day, being marks which—
have been struck by an independent body in accordance with the law of that State; and
provide information which is equivalent to the information provided by the marks mentioned in section 4(1)(a)(i) and (ii) of this Act and which is intelligible to consumers in the United Kingdom.
Marks within subsection (1)(c) above are in this Act called “convention hallmarks”, and marks within subsection (1)(d) above are in this Act called “EEA hallmarks”..
In this section “EEA state” has the meaning which it had under Schedule 1 to the Interpretation Act 1978 before exit day.
The Secretary of State may by order make such provision as appears to him appropriate for enabling articles submitted to an assay office in the United Kingdom to be struck with marks which, pursuant to any convention or treaty falling within subsection (1)(c) above, will, or will with other marks, be accorded recognition under the law of any other country, and for making consequential or incidental provisions, including provision for excluding or modifying any of the provisions of this Act.
For the purposes of this Act an article is unhallmarked—
if it does not bear the approved hallmarks and the sponsor’s mark, or
if the article has been the subject of any improper alteration.
In this Act “improper alteration” means an addition, alteration or repair which has been made to an article bearing approved hallmarks and— Provided that paragraphs (b) and (c) of this subsection shall not apply if, after the making of the addition, alteration or repair, the article has been re-assayed and struck with any further approved hallmark.
which contravened section 5 of this Act, or
which was made before the coming into force of that section,and would have required the consent of an assay office if that section had been in force, or
in the case of an article which bears a convention hallmark or an EEA hallmark, would have required that consent if the addition, alteration or repair had been made in the United Kingdom:
Before an article is submitted to an assay office to be struck with the approved hallmarks there shall be struck on the article a mark indicative of the manufacturer or sponsor and known as the sponsor’s mark: Provided that the assay office and the manufacturer or sponsor of an article may make arrangements for the sponsor’s mark to be struck by that assay office upon submission of the article to be struck with the approved hallmarks.
After 31st December 1975 all sponsors’ marks for the time being in use shall cease to be authorised for striking on any article intended to be struck with the approved hallmarks and thenceforth a sponsor’s mark shall be authorised (whether or not of the same design as any sponsor’s mark which was authorised before 1st January 1976) only if it is for the time being registered under the following provisions of this section with an assay office by which the article is intended to be so struck.
“functions” includes powers and duties;
Any sponsor’s mark which is registered under this section shall ... be of such design as may be approved by an assay office:
Provided that nothing in this paragraph shall apply to the registration on or before 31st December 1975 by a manufacturer or sponsor (or to the renewal from time to time thereafter of that registration) of the same mark as until that date has been authorised for use by him in terms of subsection (2) of this section.
An assay office shall maintain a register of sponsors’ marks for the time being registered and approved by that assay office under this section
Upon application for registration or renewal of the registration of any sponsor’s mark under this section with an assay office, there shall be payable by the applicant such reasonable fee as for the time being is specified in regulations made by the Council and any application shall be made in such form accompanied by such particulars and exhibits as may be so specified.
Registration or renewal of the registration of any sponsor’s mark under this section shall be subject to the approval, provision and recording from time to time (in accordance with regulations made by the Council) of such punches or other equipment as may be specified in such regulations.
Any assay office may register under this section their own sponsor’s mark, being of such design as may be approved by resolution of the Council; and in any case where a person submits an article to an assay office for striking with the approved hallmarks and that assay office are of opinion that they would not be justified in requiring that person to register and strike a sponsor’s mark in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this section, the sponsor’s mark of that assay office may be struck on the article.
The registration of a sponsor’s mark under this section shall cease to have effect after the expiration of the period of ten years following registration but without prejudice to the making of any application for renewal of such registration.
Any person who without authority strikes an article with a mark purporting to be a sponsor’s mark authorised under this section shall be guilty of an offence.
Subject to the provisions of this section and of Schedule 2 to this Act, any article of precious metal, which is submitted to an assay office for hallmarking and which upon assay is found in all its parts to be of a standard of fineness not less than the minimum fineness for that precious metal, shall be struck by that assay office with the approved hallmarks, namely— and, as respects all such articles, in compliance with any directions given by the Council pursuant to Part IV of the said Schedule with respect to any shield or other border by which any approved hallmark is to be enclosed.
as respects articles comprised of a single precious metal (and governed by Part I of the said Schedule 2)—
the assay office mark as specified in paragraph 1 of the said Schedule appropriate to the assay office specified in column (1) opposite to such mark;
the standard mark specified in paragraph 2 of the said Schedule as respects an article of the precious metal specified opposite thereto in column (1) of the said paragraph assaying to a standard of fineness specified in column (2) of the said paragraph and also so opposite;
the pictorial mark, or one of the pictorial marks, specified in paragraph 3 of the said Schedule as respects an article of the precious metal specified opposite thereto in column (1) of the said paragraph assaying to a standard of fineness specified in column (2) of the said paragraph and also so opposite;
the date letter directed pursuant to paragraph 4 of the said Schedule; and
the mark (if any) directed pursuant to paragraph 5 of the said Schedule;
as respects articles comprised of two or more precious metals and satisfying the conditions of Part II of the said Schedule 2, marks struck in accordance with that Part; and
as respects articles comprised of precious metal and other materials and satisfying the conditions of Part III of the said Schedule 2, marks struck in accordance with that Part;
Each of the approved hallmarks mentioned in subsection (1)(a)(iii), (iv) and (v) above shall be struck by an assay office on an article only if a request to that effect is made by the person who submits the article to the assay office; but the absence of any such approved hallmark on an article by virtue of this subsection shall not in itself render the article unhallmarked for the purposes of this Act.
No article shall be struck with the approved hallmarks unless—
the assay office are of opinion that the use of any solder or adhesive is not excessive;
“precious metal” in relation to any article means gold, silver or platinum, or any other metal to which by an order under section 17 of this Act the provisions of this Act are applied;
gold, is gold of a fineness not less than the standard of fineness of the article:
of a standard of fineness of 916-6 may be of a fineness not less than 750 ; and
of filigree work or being a watch case and in either case of a standard of fineness of 750, may be of a fineness not less than 740; and
of white gold of a standard of fineness of 750, may be of a fineness not less than 500;
Provided that solder used in any article—
of a standard of fineness of 916·6 may be of a fineness not less than 750; and
of filigree work or being a watch case and in either case of a standard of fineness of 750, may be of a fineness not less than 740; and
of white gold of a standard of fineness of not less than 585 and not more than 750, may be of a fineness not less than 500;
palladium, is gold, silver, platinum or palladium or a combination of two or more thereof and is of a fineness or (as the case may be) of a combined fineness not less than the standard of fineness of the article: Provided that solder used in any article of a standard of fineness of 950 or above may be of a fineness not less than 700; and
silver, is silver of a fineness not less than 650;
platinum, is gold, silver, platinum or palladium or a combination of two or more thereof and is of a fineness or (as the case may be) of a combined fineness not less than 950;
solder of a fineness less than the standard of fineness of the article or adhesive is used in a quantity not more than is necessary for joining parts of the article and is not used for strengthening, weighting, filling or otherwise.
An article comprised of more than one precious metal part shall be struck with the approved hallmarks only if the assay office are of the opinion that a person will be able to determine, when the article is hallmarked, which part is made of which precious metal.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If— the Council shall consider the case and, if they are of the opinion that the assay office were acting unreasonably in refusing to hallmark the article, they shall direct the assay office to strike the article with the approved hallmarks.
an assay office have refused to hallmark an article submitted to them for hallmarking under this section; and
the person submitting the article has referred the matter to the Council in writing;
It shall be the duty of an assay office to whom a direction has been given under subsection (5) above to comply with the direction.
The Secretary of State may, after consulting the Council and such other persons as he thinks fit, make regulations wholly or partly varying, supplementing or replacing the foregoing provisions of this section and the provisions of Schedule 2 to this Act; and upon the coming into operation of regulations made under this subsection those provisions, or such of them as may be specified in such regulations together with any regulations or directions made or given under those provisions, shall have effect as so varied or supplemented or (as the case may be) shall cease to have effect.
Regulations made under this subsection may contain such transitional, incidental, supplementary or consequential provision as the Secretary of State considers necessary or expedient for the purpose of the regulations, including provision applying, extending, excluding or amending, or repealing or revoking, with or without savings, any provision of this Act or an instrument under this Act.
This Act applies with the following modifications in relation to business carried on outside the United Kingdom by an assay office.
Subsection (1) of section 4 has effect as if for “shall be struck” there were substituted “may be struck” and as if for paragraph (a)(i) there were substituted—.
Schedule 2 has effect as if—
paragraph 1 were omitted;
in paragraph 7(a) for “assay office mark”, there were substituted “mark approved for use outside the United Kingdom by the assay office pursuant to section 4(1)(a)(i),”;
in paragraph 10(3) and (4)(c) for “assay office mark” there were substituted “mark mentioned in paragraph 7(a)”; and
paragraph 15(b) were omitted.
Schedule 5 has effect as if in paragraph 2(1) for “the assay office shall examine” there were substituted “the assay office may examine”.
Subject to subsections (3) to (5) below, it shall be an offence for any person to make an addition, alteration or repair to an article bearing approved hallmarks, except in accordance with the written consent of an assay office.
Subject to subsection (3) below, it shall be an offence for any person to remove, alter or deface any mark struck on an article, except in accordance with the written consent of an assay office. For the purposes of this subsection “mark” means a sponsor’s mark, any approved hallmark, the word “filled”, the word “metal” or any other word for the time being prescribed by or under section 4 of, or Schedule 2 to, this Act.
It shall not be an offence under subsection (1) or (2) above to batter an article so as to render it fit only for remanufacture.
It shall not be an offence under subsection (1) above to make an addition to an article which is not a new ware if the character of the article, and the purposes for which it can be used, remain unaltered and—
the addition is of the same precious metal as that of the article;
the metal added to the article is of a fineness not less than the standard of fineness of the article; and
the amount of metal added does not exceed the lesser of—
1 gram of gold, 5 grams of silver , 0.5 grams of platinum or 1 gram of palladium, as the case may be; and
50 per cent. of the weight of the article immediately before the addition was made.
It shall not be an offence under subsection (1) above to add a coating, of a thickness not exceeding 2 micrometres at any point, to the whole or any part of—
an article of gold, if the coating is of gold of a fineness not less than the standard of fineness of the article; or
an article of gold, if the coating is of platinum of not less than the minimum fineness; or
an article of silver, if the coating is of silver of a fineness not less than the standard of fineness of the article; or
an article of silver, if the coating is of gold or platinum or palladium of not less than the minimum fineness; or
an article of gold, silver , platinum or palladium, if the coating is of rhodium.
an article of palladium, if the coating is of palladium of a fineness not less than the standard of fineness of the article; or
an article of palladium, if the coating is of gold or platinum of not less than the minimum fineness; or
an article of platinum, if the coating is of platinum of a fineness not less than the standard of fineness of the article; or
In giving any consent for the purposes of subsection (1) or (2) above, an assay office may make it a condition of the consent that the article concerned, or any addition made to it, be further assayed and struck with—
the sponsor’s mark; and
such of the approved hallmarks as may be specified in directions issued by the Council for the purposes of this subsection or, in the absence of any such directions, such of the approved hallmarks as may be determined by the assay office.
If— the Council shall consider the case and, if they are of the opinion that the assay office were acting unreasonably in withholding the consent applied for, they shall direct the assay office to grant the consent.
an application for consent under subsection (1) or (2) above has been refused by an assay office; and
the applicant has referred the matter to the Council, in writing;
Without prejudice to subsection (6) above, it shall be the duty of an assay office to whom a direction has been given under subsection (7) above to comply with the direction.
Any person who— shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £400, or on conviction on indictment to a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years.
with intent to defraud or deceive, makes a counterfeit of any die or mark; or
removes any mark from an article of precious metal with intent to transpose it to any other article (whether of precious metal or not) or affixes to any article (whether of precious metal or not) any mark which has been removed from an article of precious metal; or
utters any counterfeit of a die or any article bearing a counterfeit of a mark; or
without lawful authority or excuse, has in his custody or under his control anything which is, and which he knows or believes to be, a counterfeit of a die or an article (whether of precious metal or not) which bears a counterfeit of any mark,
In subsection (1) above—
“the Act of 1968 ” means the Trade Descriptions Act 1968;
“die” means the whole or part of any plate, tool or instrument by means whereof any mark of the nature of a sponsor’s mark or a hallmark is struck on any metal; and
In relation to any order under section 16(2) of this Act the provisions of Part I of this Schedule shall have effect subject to the following modifications—
“enactment” includes an enactment of the Parliament of Northern Ireland, and (without prejudice to subsection (3) of this section) any reference in this Act to an enactment shall include a reference to any enactment re-enacting it with or without modifications;
and shall be hallmarked only in the manner specified for an article of that description— and in relation to any article of the description of sub-paragraphs (a) or (b) of this paragraph the precious metal of the part of the article which is not (in terms of sub-paragraph (a)) of gold or not (in terms of sub-paragraph (b)) of silver may, at the discretion of the assay office, be marked only with the standard mark.
where gold parts exceed 50 per cent, by weight of a whole article, which also contains platinum but not silver parts, the gold parts shall be hallmarked as if they comprised a separate article ;
where silver parts exceed 50 per cent, by weight of a whole article which also contains gold or platinum parts or both such parts, the silver parts shall be hallmarked as if they comprised a separate article ;
where any small working parts (which for technical reasons cannot be made of the same standard of fineness or of the same precious metal as the remainder of the article) form part of an article of which the remainder is of a higher standard of fineness or of a more precious metal, the part which is of the higher standard of fineness or (as the case may be) of the more precious metal shall be hallmarked as if it comprised a separate article and the parts which are of the lower standard of fineness or of the less precious metal shall be struck only with the standard mark for the metal of which those parts are made. For the purposes of this sub-paragraph platinum shall be deemed more precious than gold or silver and gold be deemed more precious than silver; and “more precious ” and “less precious ” shall be construed accordingly;
where any article of silver is coated in whole or in part with gold, the article shall be hallmarked as if it were comprised only of silver; and
where any article of gold, silver or platinum is coated in whole or in part with rhodium, the article shall be hallmarked as if it were comprised only of gold, silver or platinum (as the case may be) ;
Standard mark Precious metal Standard of fineness Standard mark (1) (2) (3) Gold 375 The figures 375 Gold 585 The figures 585 Gold 750 The figures 750 Gold 916.6 The figures 916 Gold 990 The figures 990 Gold 999 The figures 999 Silver 800 The figures 800 Silver 925 The figures 925 Silver 958.4 The figures 958 Silver 999 The figures 999 Platinum 850 The figures 850 Platinum 900 The figures 900 Platinum 950 The figures 950 Platinum 999 The figures 999 Palladium 500 The figures 500 Palladium 950 The figures 950 Palladium 999 The figures 999
In this Act, unless the subject or context otherwise requires—
“assay office” means (subject to subsection (2) of this section) each of the following bodies— The Wardens and Commonalty of the Mystery of Goldsmiths of the City of London (in this Act referred to as “the London Assay Office”); The Incorporation of Goldsmiths of the City of Edinburgh (in this Act referred to as “the Edinburgh Assay Office”); The Guardians of the Standard of Wrought Plate in Birmingham (in this Act referred to as “the Birmingham Assay Office”); The Guardians of the Standard of Wrought Plate within the town of Sheffield (in this Act referred to as “the Sheffield Assay Office”);
a body for the time being established under section 16(1)(a) of this Act, and
Section 1.
Subject to the provisions of this paragraph— If the description is in writing the lettering of “plated” or “rolled” is to be at least as large as any other lettering in the description. This paragraph does not apply if the description is false or is applied to an article for which the description is inappropriate.
“palladium” is permissible if qualified by the word “plated”.
A description is permissible if it is implicitly or in express terms confined to the colour of the article.
An article which is intended for despatch to a destination outside the United Kingdom.
An article which is outside the United Kingdom, or which is in course of consignment from outside the United Kingdom to an assay office in the United Kingdom.
Any coin which is, or was formerly at any time, current coin of the United Kingdom or any other territory.
Any article which has been used, or is intended to be used, for medical, dental, veterinary, scientific or industrial purposes.
Any battered article fit only to be remanufactured.
Any article of gold silver, or palladium thread.
Any raw material (including any bar, plate, sheet, foil, rod, wire, strip or tube) or bullion.
Any manufactured article which is not substantially complete, and which is intended for further manufacture.
Any article which is wholly or mainly of platinum, and which was manufactured before 1st January 1975.
Any article which—
is wholly or mainly of gold or of silver or of gold and silver assaying in all its gold parts not less than 375 parts per thousand and in all its silver parts less than 800 parts per thousand; and
was manufactured before the year 1950 and has not since the beginning of the year 1950 been the subject of any alteration which would be an improper alteration if the article had previously borne approved hallmarks.
Subject to paragraph 14AA below, any musical instrument, where the description is applied to the mouthpiece, and the mouthpiece is of minimum fineness.
Subject to paragraph 14AA and subject to the provisions of this paragraph, any article containing only one precious metal, being a metal of minimum fineness and of a weightless than that specified in the following table: gold 1 gram silver 7·78 grams platinum 0·5 gram palladium 1 gram. This paragraph does not apply— . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Subject to paragraph 14AA, any article— This paragraph does not apply to any article—
Subject to paragraph 14AA below, any article , except an article made of chainwork, which is wholly of one or more precious metals of minimum fineness and which is so small or thin that it cannot be hallmarked.
Subject to paragraph 14AA, any article— This paragraph does not apply to any article—
Subject to paragraph 14AA below, any article which is of minimum fineness and which is imported temporarily (whether as a trade sample, or as intended for exhibition otherwise) and for the time being remains under the control of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise.
Subject to paragraph 14AA, any article— This paragraph does not apply to any article—
Subject to paragraph 14AA, any article— This paragraph does not apply to any article—
Subject to paragraph 14AA and subject to the provisions of this paragraph, any article, any precious metal in which is of minimum fineness, and which either— This paragraph does not apply— . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Paragraphs 11 to 14A above do not apply to any article in which solder containing precious metal is used unless the solder is of a standard of fineness equivalent to that which would be required under section 4(3) of this Act if the article were submitted to an assay office for hallmarking.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any article which is wholly or partly of palladium, and which was manufactured before 1st January 2010.
The following articles of gold, if manufactured before 1st January 1975 and (except in the case of articles mentioned in sub-paragraph (d) below) of minimum fineness—
rings, except wedding rings, pencil cases, lockets, watch chains and thimbles,
articles consisting entirely of filigree work,
articles so heavily engraved or set with stones that it is impossible to mark them without damage,
jewellers works, that is the actual setting only in which stones or other jewels are set, and jointed sleeper earrings.
Subject to the exceptions below, the following articles of silver, if manufactured before 1st January 1975, and (except in the case of articles mentioned in paragraph (e) below) of minimum fineness: The following articles are not exempt under sub-paragraph (1) above—
Articles of gold or silver manufactured before 1st January 1975, other than articles mentioned in paragraphs 15 or 16 above, and being of such descriptions as, under any enactment in force immediately before the passing of this Act, to be specifically exempt from hallmarking.
Where under this Part of this Schedule an exemption depends on the date of manufacture, or the date of any alteration, the manufacture or alteration shall be presumed to be after that date until the contrary is proved.
This Part of this Schedule applies for the purposes of section 1 of this Act, this Schedule , the Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008 and Chapter 1 of Part 4 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.
A description indicating that an article, or the metal in an article, is of so many carats is to be presumed to be an indication that the article or metal is of gold, and that its fineness is that specified in the following table for that number of carats. This paragraph shall not apply if (as in a case where the article is a precious stone) the word ’carat’ is used as a measure of weight for precious stones, and not as a measure of fineness. Number of carats indicates gold of a standard of fineness of 9 375 parts per thousand 12 500 parts per thousand 14 585 parts per thousand 15 625 parts per thousand 18 750 parts per thousand 22 916·6 parts per thousand and so in proportion for any other number of carats.
A description of an article, or of the metal in an article, as “sterling” or (except in the phrase “Britannia metal”) “Britannia” is to be presumed to be an indication that the article, or the metal, is of silver. If “sterling” is the word used, the description is to be presumed to be an indication that the silver is of a standard of fineness of 925. If the word used is “Britannia” the description is to be presumed to be an indication that the silver is of a standard of fineness of 958·4.
The Secretary of State may by order— An order under this paragraph—
Section 4.
Optional pictorial mark Precious metal Standard of fineness Pictorial mark (1) (2) (3) Gold 375 A crown Gold 585 A crown Gold 750 A crown Gold 916.6 A crown Gold 990 A crown Gold 999 A crown Silver 925 A lion passant. In the case of an article struck by the Edinburgh Assay Office, the reference to a lion passant shall be treated as a reference to a lion rampant. Silver 958.4 The figure of Britannia or a lion passant. In the case of an article struck by the Edinburgh Assay Office, the reference to a lion passant shall be treated as a reference to a lion rampant. Silver 999 The figure of Britannia or a lion passant. In the case of an article struck by the Edinburgh Assay Office, the reference to a lion passant shall be treated as a reference to a lion rampant. Platinum 950 An orb surmounted by a cross Platinum 999 An orb surmounted by a cross Palladium 500 The head of Pallas Athene Palladium 950 The head of Pallas Athene Palladium 999 The head of Pallas Athene
The person who submits the article to an assay office may request the assay office to strike the marks mentioned in paragraph 7 on a particular precious metal part. The assay office must comply with such a request unless they think that, in consequence of doing so, it would not be clear which part of the article is made of which precious metal.
This paragraph applies if— The Council may direct the assay office to comply with the request. The assay office must comply with the direction.
This paragraph applies to the striking of hallmarks other than in accordance with a request under paragraph 8. Each standard mark must be struck on the precious metal part to which it relates. The assay office mark must be struck together with the standard mark for the least precious metal. If it is not practical to strike the marks in accordance with sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) they must be struck as follows—
If the person who submits the article to the assay office so requests, the assay office must, if it is practical to do so— The absence of an approved hallmark as mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) does not render the article unhallmarked for the purposes of this Act.
Any small working parts contained within an article which for technical reasons are of a lower standard of fineness or of a less precious metal than the remainder of the article shall, if it is practicable to strike a mark on those parts, be struck with the standard mark only but shall otherwise be ignored for the purpose of determining which hallmarks are to be struck on the remainder of the article.
Where any article of gold, silver , platinum or palladium is coated in whole or in part with rhodium the rhodium shall be ignored for the purpose of determining which hallmarks are to be struck.
Where any article of silver , platinum or palladium is coated in whole or in part with gold the gold coating shall be ignored for the purpose of determining which hallmarks are to be struck.
For the purposes of this Part and Part 3—
the ranking of precious metals (with platinum being the most precious and silver the least precious) is— platinum gold palladium silver, and “least precious” and “less precious” shall be construed accordingly,
“assay office mark” means the mark determined in accordance with section 4(1)(a)(i), and
“standard mark” means the mark determined in accordance with section 4(1)(a)(ii) as if the precious metal part comprised a single article.
Optional date letter Such distinct variable letter of the alphabet to denote the year in which the article is marked as may be for the time being directed in writing by the Council.
Optional additional mark Such mark (if any) as may be for the time being directed in writing by the Council.]
A mixed material article shall not be hallmarked unless, upon assay, each precious metal is of a standard of fineness not less than the minimum fineness for that precious metal and sub-paragraph (2) or (3) applies. If the article includes base metal the base metal part must be clearly distinguishable in appearance (either by the colour of that part or by having struck on it the name of that metal, or the word “metal”, in a manner which complies with any regulations made by the Council) from any precious metal. If the article does not include base metal the condition in sub-paragraph (4) or (5) must apply. The condition in this sub-paragraph is that— The condition in this sub-paragraph is that in respect of any article in which the other materials are wholly or mainly enclosed by precious metal— Paragraph (b) of sub-paragraph (5) does not apply in the case of the handle to a knife, fork or spoon if the quantity of filling in the handle is not more than is necessary for joining.
A mixed material article with only a single precious metal part shall be hallmarked on the precious metal part as if it were a separate article.
A mixed material article comprised of two or more precious metal parts shall be hallmarked on a precious metal part in accordance with Part 2.
For the purposes of this Part—
“base metal” means any metal other than gold, silver , platinum or palladium, and
“mixed material article” means an article comprised of one or more precious metal parts and one or more other materials.
An article comprised of two or more precious metals shall not be hallmarked unless, upon assay, each precious metal is of a standard of fineness not less than the minimum fineness for that precious metal.
where the other materials include base metal, the article shall be hallmarked only if the use of the base metal in the manufacture of the article is authorised by regulations made by the Council (or, in relation to any single article, is approved by the Council)—
as being reasonably required to fulfil the purpose for which the article is designed to be used; and
as satisfying the requirement that the part composed of base metal should be clearly distinguishable in appearance (either by the colour of that part or by having struck thereon the word “metal” in manner consonant with any regulations made by the Council) from any part which is of precious metal of minimum fineness.
where the other materials do not include base metal, the article shall be hallmarked only on the precious metal part thereof and only if—
those materials are clearly distinguishable from any part of the article which is of precious metal and they are not plated or of a colour to resemble any precious metal and their extent is clearly visible, or
in respect of any article wherein the other materials are wholly or mainly enclosed by precious metal, the article has been so manufactured as to be capable of being hallmarked before it is filled and (except in the case of a handle to a knife, fork or spoon where the quantity of filling in the handle is not more than is necessary for joining) there has been struck thereon the word “filled ” in manner consonant with any regulations made by the Council.
Each of the marks comprising the approved hallmarks shall be enclosed by such shield or other border as the Council may (if they see fit) for the time being specify by directions to the assay offices.
The article shall be struck with—
the assay office mark, and
the appropriate standard mark for each precious metal.
Section 8.
A person guilty of an offence under this Act for which no other penalty is specified shall be liable—
on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £400; and
on conviction on indictment, to a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or both.
No prosecution for an offence under this Act shall be commenced after the expiration of three years from the commission of the offence or one year from its discovery by the prosecutor whichever is the earlier. Notwithstanding anything in section 104 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1952, a magistrates’ court may try an information for an offence under this Act if the information was laid at any time within twelve months from the commission of the offence. Notwithstanding anything in section 23 of the Summary Jurisdiction (Scotland) Act 1954 (limitation of time for proceedings in statutory offences) summary proceedings in Scotland for an offence under this Act may be commenced at any time within twelve months from the time when the offence was committed, and subsection (2) of the said section 23 shall apply for the purposes of this sub-paragraph as it applies for the purposes of that section. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) above do not apply where—
Where an offence under this Act which has been committed by a body corporate is proved to have been committed with the consent and connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of, any director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate, or any person who was purporting to act in any such capacity, he as well as the body corporate shall be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. In this paragraph “director” in relation to any body corporate established by or under any enactment for the purpose of carrying on under national ownership any industry or part of an industry or undertaking, being a body corporate whose affairs are managed by the members thereof, means a member of that body corporate.
Where the commission by any person of an offence under this Act is due to the act or default of some other person that other person shall be guilty of the offence, and a person may be charged with and convicted of the offence by virtue of this paragraph whether or not proceedings are taken against the first-mentioned person.
In proceedings for an offence under this Act committed by the publication of an advertisement it shall be a defence for the person charged to prove that he is a person whose business it is to publish or arrange for the publication of advertisements and that he received the advertisement for publication in the ordinary course of business and did not know and had no reason to suspect that its publication would amount to an offence under this Act.
In any proceedings for an offence under section 1 of this Act, it shall be a defence for the person charged to prove that—
in reliance on information supplied by another person, he believed that the article concerned was one which was exempt from hallmarking by virtue of Part II of Schedule 1 to this Act; and
that he could not with reasonable diligence have ascertained that it was not such an article.
Section 13.
The Council shall consist of not less than sixteen nor more than nineteen members.
Ten of the members of the Council shall be appointed by the Secretary of State. Three of the members appointed by the Secretary of State shall be persons appearing to him to be suitably qualified by virtue of their knowledge of, and experience in, organisations established, or activities carried on, for the protection of the consumer. Four of the members appointed by the Secretary of State, but not more than four, shall be persons appearing to him to be suitably qualified by virtue of their engagement wholly or mainly in trading in, or manufacture of, articles of precious metal. Before making any appointment under sub-paragraph (3) of this paragraph the Secretary of State shall consult the assay offices and such bodies representing persons engaged wholly or mainly in trading in, or manufacture of, articles of precious metal as he thinks appropriate.
Six of the members of the Council shall be appointed by the assay offices as follows, that is to say— Any person appointed under this paragraph shall be a person appearing to the assay office appointing him to be suitably qualified by virtue of his knowledge and experience of hallmarking. A person engaged wholly or mainly in trading in, or in articles manufactured of, precious metal shall not be appointed under this paragraph.
Members shall be appointed under the preceding provisions of this Schedule to take office on 1st January in the year 1974, and in each third succeeding year, and members so appointed shall hold office for a term of three years.
Not more than two members of the Council may be persons appointed by the Council as co-opted members. A co-opted member shall hold office in accordance with the terms of his appointment.
A person wholly or mainly employed by an assay office, other than the clerk to an assay office, shall not be eligible for membership of the Council.
The first meeting of the Council shall be held on such day and at such time and place as may be appointed by the Clerk to the Birmingham Assay Office and the said Clerk shall make arrangements for notice of the meeting to be sent by post to each member of the Council not less than fourteen days before the day so appointed.
A member of the Council may at any time, by notice in writing to the secretary of the Council, resign his office. When a member of the Council other than a co-opted member ceases to hold office otherwise than upon expiration of his period of office, his place shall be taken by a person appointed in the same manner as the member in question. A person taking office by virtue of sub-paragraph (2) above shall retire when the person whose place he takes would normally have retired.
The Council shall elect a person to serve as chairman from among the members of the Council and notice of his election shall, as soon as is reasonably practicable, be given in writing to the Secretary of State by the secretary or other person for the time being authorised by the Council in that behalf. The chairman of the Council shall hold office as such until the expiration of the period of his office as a member current at his election as chairman or until he resigns office as chairman or until he ceases to be a member of the Council, whichever first occurs. If any member appointed by an assay office is elected as chairman of the Council, paragraph 8(2) of this Schedule shall have effect as if that member had ceased to hold office otherwise than upon the expiration of his period of office.
A person retiring from or resigning office as the chairman or as a member of the Council shall be eligible to hold that office again.
The powers of the Council or any committee thereof may be exercised notwithstanding any vacancy in its membership, and no proceedings of such a body shall be invalidated by any defect in the selection of a person to be a member of that body.
Questions arising at any meeting of the Council or of any committee thereof shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members present in person or by proxy: Provided that in the event of an equality of votes the chairman, or in his absence the person acting as chairman, shall have a second or casting vote.
The chief executive of an assay office and any other employee authorised by them in that behalf may attend and speak at meetings of the Council.
The Council may in any standing orders made by them pursuant to paragraph 16 of this Schedule make such provision as they think fit as to the giving of votes by proxy at meetings of the Council, including provision as to the form of appointment of any proxy, the submission of any completed proxy in due time before any meeting and as to all matters related to voting by proxy. A proxy for a member of the Council or of any committee of the Council need not be a member of the Council or that committee as the case may be.
The Council may appoint a technical committee and one or more other committees to carry out on their behalf such of the functions of the Council as they may determine, and any such committee shall be comprised of such persons appointed on such terms as the Council may determine.
The Council may make standing orders for regulating the proceedings (including quorum) of the Council or any committee thereof, as the Council from time to time think fit.
The Council shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal and with power to hold and dispose of land. Every instrument to which the common seal is affixed shall be signed by a member and counter-signed by the secretary of the Council or by a second such member.
The expenses of the Council (which may include reasonable provision for reserves) for the year then current shall, unless otherwise resolved by the Council, be estimated and determined upon at the first meeting of the Council in any year and shall be defrayed out of contributions paid in accordance with this paragraph by each of the assay offices. The contribution so to be paid by any assay office shall be ascertained by applying to the amount of the said expenses of the Council that percentage (which for purposes of practical calculation may be adjusted by the Council by not more than one half of one per cent. or by any greater percentage with the agreement of that assay office) of the aggregate of the gross revenues of all the assay offices from charges for assaying and hallmarking precious metals under this Act (being revenue ascertained in manner for the time being determined by the Council), which is represented by the like gross revenue of that assay office alone and so ascertained. Unless otherwise determined by the Council, every contribution payable under this paragraph shall be paid within three months after any such meeting of the Council as is referred to in sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph.
The Council shall keep proper accounts of all sums received or paid by them . . . Their accounts for each year ending on or before 31st December 2002 shall be audited by the auditors appointed by the Council. The Council shall send their accounts for each subsequent year to the Comptroller and Auditor General as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of the year to which the accounts relate. The Comptroller and Auditor General shall examine, certify and report on any accounts sent to him under sub-paragraph (1B). The Comptroller and Auditor General shall lay before each House of Parliament a copy of any accounts sent to him under sub-paragraph (1B), together with his report on them. No person shall be appointed as auditor under this paragraph unless he is eligible for appointment as a statutory auditor under Part 42 of the Companies Act 2006 .
The Council may pay to the chairman of the Council such remuneration and expenses as they see fit and to any other of their members, or to any member of a committee appointed by them, travelling, subsistence or other allowances.
The Council shall appoint a secretary and such other officers and servants on such terms as to remuneration, pensions or otherwise as the Council may determine.
Section 15.
An assay office may refuse to assay or mark any new ware if it is submitted at a stage of its manufacture which is unreasonable for assaying of and striking of marks on the new ware.
Upon receipt of any article submitted to an assay office for assay and hallmarking, the assay office shall examine the same to ascertain whether it is in their opinion sufficiently advanced in workmanship and, if composed of one or more parts, whether all the parts are present, and also whether the article complies with the conditions of this Act so as to permit it to be struck with the approved hallmarks; and, if the assay office are dissatisfied as respects any of the foregoing matters, they shall return the article without making an assay thereof. If upon receipt and view of any article submitted to an assay office for assay and hallmarking, the assay office shall suspect that other materials than precious metal of not less than the minimum fineness therefor have been introduced or concealed in any such article, the assay office may cause the same to be cut; and if upon cutting— Subject to sub-paragraphs (1), (2) and (5) of this paragraph, the assay office may cause to be drawn, scraped, cut or otherwise removed from the article such quantity of precious metal or take such other sample or do such other thing as may be necessary to enable an accurate assay to be made of the article and may retain the quantity so removed and apply it (or the value thereof) towards their general expenses. In the event of any part of any article or any sample from any article being found to be of a fineness— If an assay office are satisfied where two or more articles being new wares are submitted to them in one parcel of work for assay and hallmarking that all the articles so submitted are intended to assay to a single standard of fineness, the assay office may, notwithstanding anything in sub-paragraph (3) of this paragraph, carry out a single assay in respect of some or all of the articles contained in such parcel.
Her Majesty’s Mint may at any time and from time to time as thought fit in normal office hours visit any assay office for the purpose of inspecting the assay department of that office and of ascertaining and assessing the accuracy and efficiency of their methods and procedures of assay; and a report on the assay department of each assay office shall be prepared once in every period of fourteen months by the Queen’s Assay Master and presented to the Deputy Master of Her Majesty’s Mint, copies of such reports having first been sent to the Council and the assay office concerned. If such assay methods, in the opinion of Her Majesty’s Mint, are not of such a standard as will enable that assay office to report accurately on the fineness of any article, or articles, of precious metal, then Her Majesty’s Mint shall notify the Council and the assay office forthwith and make to each of them such recommendations as appear requisite in relation to such assay methods; and the Council shall consult with the assay office as to the action Q to be taken upon such recommendations. Her Majesty’s Mint shall be entitled to make a reasonable charge to each assay office in respect of the performance of their functions under this paragraph.
Each assay office shall be responsible both for the safe custody of the dies to be used by that assay office for the purpose of striking articles with the approved hallmarks and other marks and for the disposal of such dies as and when the same are no longer required. The Council may after consultation with all the assay offices make regulations in or in connection with the discharge by assay offices of the duty imposed upon them by sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph and as to the manner in which any such die is to be made or used and generally in relation thereto.
Section 16.
Before making application for an order under subsection (1)(b) of section 16 of this Act, the applicants shall consult the assay office the subject of the proposed order and, if so requested by the assay office, shall submit to the Secretary of State a draft of the proposed order and such written observations as the assay office may make to the applicants within the period of forty-two days after being so consulted; and, following the submission of such a draft and observations, the applicants shall take no further steps in connection with the proposed application pending a decision of the Secretary of State, who shall give written notice to the applicants and the assay office either that he refuses to consider such an application or that it is (without prejudice, however, to subsequent refusal thereof) to be allowed to proceed.
On application for any order to which this Part of this Schedule applies the applicants shall submit to the Secretary of State a draft of the order which they desire him to make and shall publish once at least in each of two successive weeks in one or more newspapers circulating in the locality wherein the assay office the subject of the order carries on or is intended to carry on business (as the case may be) a notice—
stating the general effect of the order;
specifying a place in the said area where a copy of the draft order may be inspected by any person free of charge at all reasonable hours during a period of twenty-eight days from the date of the first publication of the notice; and
stating that, within the said period, any person may by notice to the Secretary of State object to the application.
Not later than the date on which the said notice is first published, the applicants shall, if the Secretary of State so requires, serve a copy of the notice and of the draft order on any person specified by the Secretary of State.
The applicants shall also publish in the Gazette a notice stating that they are about to apply for an order under section 16 of this Act, naming the county and district in the locality wherein the assay office the subject of the order carries on or is intended to carry on business (as the case may be), specifying a place where a copy of the draft order may be inspected, and giving the name and date of issue of a local newspaper in which the notice explaining the effect of the order applied for will be found.
The applicants shall, at the request of any person interested, furnish to him a copy of the draft order upon payment of such charge as they think reasonable not exceeding fifty pence, or such higher sum as the Secretary of State may from time to time authorise in writing.
The Secretary of State may make an order in the terms of the draft submitted to him or in those terms as modified in such manner as he thinks fit, but where he proposes to make any modification which appears to him substantially to affect the character of the order as applied for, he shall take such steps as appear to him to be sufficient and reasonably practicable for informing the applicants and other persons likely to be concerned, and shall not make the order until such period for consideration of, and comment upon, the proposed modification as he thinks reasonable has elapsed.
If, before the expiration of the twenty-eight days referred to in paragraph 2 of this Part of this Schedule, or of twenty-five days from the publication of the said notice in the Gazette, or before the expiration of any period specified in notices given under the last foregoing paragraph, an objection is received by the Secretary of State from any person appearing to him to be affected by the application, or as the case may be, by the proposed modification, and the objection is not withdrawn, the Secretary of State, before making any order on the application, shall (unless he is of opinion that the objection is frivolous or too trivial to warrant the holding of an inquiry or hearing with respect to it) either—
cause a local inquiry to be held; or
afford to the objector and to the applicants, as well as to any other persons to whom it appears to the Secretary of State expedient to afford it, an opportunity of appearing before, and being heard by, a person appointed by the Secretary of State for the purpose.
On the making of an order to which this Part of this Schedule applies, the Secretary of State shall give notice of the making of the order and the effect thereof to any person who has objected thereto under the foregoing provisions of this Part of this Schedule, and has not withdrawn that objection, and in that case the order shall not have effect until the expiration of twenty-eight days from the date of the said notice, and if within that period any such person gives notice to the Secretary of State that he objects to the order and the objection is not withdrawn, the order shall be subject to special parliamentary procedure.
The costs incurred by the Secretary of State in connection with the making and notification of an order under this Part of this Schedule, including any costs incurred in relation to any such order under the Statutory Orders (Special Procedure) Act 1945, shall be paid by the applicants.
In this Part of this Schedule “the Gazette” means in relation to publication of a notice as respects an order concerning an assay office carrying on or intended to carry on business—
in England and Wales, the London Gazette;
in Scotland, the Edinburgh Gazette; and
in Northern Ireland, the Belfast Gazette.
For paragraph 1 and for the words in paragraph 2 before “shall publish” there shall be substituted—;
“6. The Secretary of State may make an order in the terms of the draft or in those terms as modified in such manner as he thinks fit, but where he proposes to make any modification which appears to him substantially to affect the character of the order he shall take such steps as appear to him to be sufficient and reasonably practicable for informing persons likely to be concerned, and shall not make the order until such period for consideration of, and comment upon, the proposed modification as he thinks reasonable has elapsed”;
Paragraphs 3 and 9 shall be omitted;
In paragraphs 4 and 5 for reference to the applicants there shall be substituted reference to the Secretary of State;
For paragraph 6 there shall be substituted the following paragraph—
in paragraph 7—
for the word “application” where it first occurs there shall be substituted the word “order”;
the words “on the application” shall be omitted;
in paragraph (b) for the words “the applicants” there shall be substituted the words “such of them the Council and any assay office as might have been applicants for such an order under section 16(1) of this Act” ’.
Section 23.
Chapter Title or Short Title Extent of repeal 8 & 9 Will. 3. c. 8. 1696. An Act for encouraging the bringing in wrought plate to be coined. The whole Act. 1 Anne c. 3. 1702. An Act for continuing the Act made in the eighth year of His late Majesty’s reign for better preventing the counterfeiting the current coin of this kingdom. The whole Act. 6 Geo. 1. c. 11. The Plate Duty Act 1719. The whole Act. 12 Geo. 2. c. 26. The Plate (Offences) Act 1738. The whole Act. 15 Geo. 2. c. 20. The Gold and Silver Thread Act 1741. The whole Act. 13 Geo. 3. c. 59. The Plate (Offences) Act 1772. The whole Act. 28 Geo. 3. c. 7. The Gold and Silver Thread Act 1788. The whole Act. 30 Geo. 3. c. 31. The Silver Plate Act 1790. The whole Act. 38 Geo. 3. c. 69. The Gold Plate (Standard) Act 1798. The whole Act. 47 Geo. 3. Sess. 2. c. 15. The Plate Assay (Ireland) Act 1807. The whole Act. 6 & 7 Will. 4. c. 69. The Plate (Scotland) Act 1836. The whole Act. 5 & 6 Vict. c. 47. The Customs Act 1842. The whole Act. 7 & 8 Vict. c. 22. The Gold and Silver Wares Act 1844. The whole Act. 17 & 18 Vict. c. 96. The Gold and Silver Wares Act 1854. The whole Act. 18 & 19 Vict. c. 60. The Wedding Rings Act 1855. The whole Act. 39 & 40 Vict. c. 36. The Customs Consolidation Act 1876. In section 42, the words from “Clocks and watches” to “United Kingdom”. 46 & 47 Vict. c. 55. The Revenue Act 1883. Sections 10 and 11. 47 & 48 Vict. c. 62. The Revenue Act 1884. Sections 4 and 5. 53 & 54 Vict. c. 8. The Customs and Inland Revenue Act 1890. Section 17. 4 Edw. 7. c. 6. The Hall-marking of Foreign Plate Act 1904. The whole Act. 7 Edw. 7. c. 8. The Assay of Imported Watch-Cases (Existing Stocks Exemption) Act 1907. The whole Act. 7 Edw. 7. c. 13. The Finance Act 1907. Section 5. 3 & 4 Geo. 5. c. 27. The Forgery Act 1913. Sections 5(4)(b), 8(2)(a) and 16(2)(d). Section 6, so far as it relates to any die used for the marking or stamping of gold or silver plate, or gold or silver wares. 2 & 3 Geo. 6. c. 36. The Hall-marking of Foreign Plate Act 1939. The whole Act. 14 & 15 Geo. 6. c. 39. The Common Informers Act 1951. In the Schedule, the entries relating to 8 & 9 Will. 3. c. 8; 12 Geo. 2. c. 26; 15 Geo. 2. c. 20; 13 Geo. c. 52; 28 Geo. 3. c. 7; and 38 Geo. 3. c. 69. 15 & 16 Geo. 6. & 1 Eliz. 2. c. 44. The Customs and Excise Act 1952. In Schedule 10, in Part II, paragraphs 1, 2 and 6.
Chapter Title or Short Title Extent of repeal 1 Geo. 3. c. 9.(Ir.). The Gold and Silver Thread Act (Ireland) 1761. The whole Act. 23 & 24 Geo. 3. c. 23 (Ir.) (1783). An Act to regulate the assay of gold and promote the manufacture of gold and silver wares in this kingdom. The whole Act.
Chapter Title or Short Title Extent of Repeal 8 & 9 Will. 3. c. 8. 1696. An Act for encouraging the bringing in wrought plate to be coined. The whole Act. 1 Anne c. 3. 1702. An Act for continuing the Act made in the eighth year of His late Majesty's reign for better preventing the counterfeiting the current coin of this kingdom. The whole Act. 6 Geo. I. c. 11. The Plate Duty Act 1719. The whole Act. 12 Geo. 2. c. 26. The Plate (Offences) Act 1738. The whole Act 15 Geo. 2. c. 20. The Gold and Silver Thread Act 1741. The whole Act. 13 Geo. 3. c. 59. The Plate (Offences) Act 1772. The whole Act. 28 Geo. 3. c. 7. The Gold and Silver Thread Act 1788. The whole Act. 30 Geo. 3. c. 31. The Silver Plate Act 1790. The whole Act. 38 Geo. 3. c. 69. The Gold Plate (Standard) Act 1798. The whole Act. 47 Geo. 3. Sess. 2. c. 15. The Plate Assay (Ireland) Act 1807. The whole Act. 6 & 7 WE 4. c. 69. The Plate (Scotland) Act 1836. The whole Act. 5 & 6 Vict. c. 47. The Customs Act 1842. The whole Act. 7 & 8 Vict. c. 22. The Gold and Silver Wares Act 1844. The whole Act. 17 & 18 Vict. c. 96. The Gold and Silver Wares Act 1854. The whole Act. 18 & 19 Vict. c. 60. The Wedding Rings Act 1855. The whole Act. 39 & 40 Vict. c. 36. The Customs Consolidation Act 1876. In section 42, the words from “Clocks and watches” to “United Kingdom ”. 46 & 47 Vict. c. 55. The Revenue Act 1883. Sections 10 and 11. 47 & 48 Vict. c. 62. The Revenue Act 1884. Sections 4 and 5. 53 & 54 Vict. c. 8. The Customs and Inland Revenue Act 1890. Section 17. 4 Edw. 7. c. 6. The Hall-marking of Foreign Plate Act 1904. The whole Act. 7 Edw. 7. c. 8. The Assay of Imported Watch-Cases (Existing Stocks Exemption) Act 1907. The whole Act. 7 Edw. 7. c. 13. The Finance Act 1907. Section 5. 3 & 4 Geo. 5. c. 27. The Forgery Act 1913. Sections 5(4)(b), 8(2)(a) and 16(2)(d). Section 6, so far as it relates to any die used for the marking or stamping of gold or silver plate, or gold or silver wares. 2 & 3 Geo. 6. c. 36. The Hall-marking of Foreign Plate Act 1939. The whole Act. 14 & 15 Geo. 6. c. 39. The Common Informers Act 1951. In the Schedule, the entries relating to 8 & 9 Will. 3. c. 8; 12 Geo. 2. c. 26; 15 Geo. 2. c. 20; 13 Geo. 3. c. 52; 28 Geo. 3. c. 7; and 38 Geo. 3. c.69. 15 & 16 Geo. 6. & 1 Eliz. 2. c. 44. The Customs and Excise Act 1952. In Schedule 10, in Part II, paragraphs 1, 2 and 6. Chapter Title or Short Title Extent of Repeal 1 Geo. 3. c. 9. (Ir.). The Gold and Silver Thread Act (Ireland) 1761. The whole Act. 23 & 24 Geo. 3. c. 23 (Ir.) (1783). An Act to regulate the assay of gold and promote the manufacture of gold and silver wares in this kingdom. The whole Act.
Chapter Title or Short Title Extent of repeal 13 Geo. 3. c. 52. The Plate (Sheffield and Birmingham) Act 1772. Sections 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25 and 26. 24 Geo. 3. c. 20. The Plate Assay (Sheffield) Act 1784. The whole Act. 59 Geo. 3. c. xxviii. The Glasgow Assay Office Act 1819. The whole Act. 5 Geo. 4. c. lii. The Birmingham Assay Office Act 1824. Sections 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41. 6 Edw. 7. c. ix. The Sheffield Assay Act 1906. Section 6. 8 & 9 Geo. 5. c. lxi. The Sheffield Corporation (Consolidation) Act 1918. Sections 501 and 502. 16 & 17 Geo. 5. c. cx. The Glasgow Goldsmiths Company Order Confirmation Act 1926. The whole Act.
Chapter Title or Short Title Extent of Repeal 13 Geo. 3. c. 52. The Plate (Sheffield and Birmingham) Act 1772. Sections 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25 and 26. 24 Geo. 3. c. 20. The Plate Assay (Sheffield) Act 1784. The whole Act. 59 Geo. 3. c. xxviii. The Glasgow Assay Office Act 1819. The whole Act. 5 Geo. 4. c. lii. The Birmingham Assay Office Act 1824. Sections 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41. 6 Edw. 7. c. ix. The Sheffield Assay Act 1906. Section 6. 8 & 9 Geo. 5. c. lxi. The Sheffield Corporation (Consolidation) Act 1918. Sections 501 and 502. 16 & 17 Geo. 5. c. cx. The Glasgow Goldsmiths Company Order Confirmation Act 1926. The whole Act.
An article comprised of two or more precious metals shall be hallmarked only if— it is of a description specified in one or other of the following sub-paragraphs ; and it complies with paragraph 5 of this Schedule,
Assay office mark Assay office Assay office mark (1) (2) London... A leopard’s head Edinburgh... A castle Birmingham... An anchor Sheffield... A rose
(where the context so admits) a body which, whilst it has been so authorised at any time before or after the passing of this Act, has since being so authorised been dissolved or has ceased business in such assaying and hallmarking;
“sponsor’s mark” means—
“unhallmarked” has the meaning given by section 2(4) of this Act.
a mark struck on an article in an EEA State other than the United Kingdom before exit day which indicates the manufacturer or sponsor of the article;
a sponsor’s mark applied under section 3 of this Act, or under the corresponding provisions of the law in force in the United Kingdom before section 3 of this Act came into force; or
“new ware” means—
any article which has been the subject of any improper alteration;
“mark” means any mark of the nature of a sponsor’s mark or hallmark.
For the purposes of subsection (1) above, a person utters any counterfeit die or article bearing a counterfeit of a mark if, knowing or believing the die or mark, as the case may be, to be a counterfeit, he supplies, offers to supply, or delivers the die or article.
Sections 5(4)(b), 8(2)(a) and 16(2)(d) of the Forgery Act 1913, and so much of section 6 of that Act as relates to any die used for the marking or stamping of gold or silver plate, or gold or silver wares, shall cease to have effect.
Subject to subsection (2) of this section, an assay office may at their discretion cancel, or obliterate any mark of the character of a hallmark (whether appearing to be an approved hallmark or to be a mark which in the opinion of the assay office is likely to be confused with such a hallmark) which an article coming into their custody or possession bears and which the assay office are satisfied—
has not been struck thereon by an assay office according to law; or
is not a true description because the article appears to have been the subject of an improper alteration.
Notwithstanding anything in any enactment, an assay office shall not, otherwise than by leave of the owner or other person appearing to have the control of any article, obliterate any ancient mark but shall cancel the same in a manner authorised under subsection (3) of this section.
The Council may issue directions to assay offices as to the manner in which an ancient mark may be cancelled under the last foregoing subsection.
If it be proved that an assay office have— the assay office (but not any other person) shall be liable in damages to any person interested in the article.
cancelled, or obliterated any mark (as described in subsection (1) of this section), which has been struck by an assay office according to law on an article which has not been the subject of an improper alteration; or
obliterated any ancient mark upon an article,
In any action brought against an assay office in pursuance of subsection (4) of this section it shall be a defence for them to prove that they had reasonable cause to believe that the circumstances specified respectively in paragraphs (a) or (b) of that subsection did not exist.
It shall be an offence for any person knowingly or any dealer to supply or offer to supply any article bearing any mark of the character of a hallmark and which under subsection (1) of this section may, if the article is in the possession of an assay office, be cancelled, obliterated or defaced, unless the article has been first submitted to an assay office to enable them at their discretion so to cancel, obliterate or deface that mark.
In this section “ancient mark” means a mark of the character of a hallmark appearing to an assay office to have been struck or incorporated before 22nd December 1854 (whether or not by an assay office according to law at the time of its marking or incorporation) upon or into an article which has not since been the subject of any improper alteration.
The provisions of Schedule 3 to this Act shall have effect in relation to offences under this Act.
It shall be the duty of every local weights and measures authority to enforce the provisions of this Act within their area; and section 26 of the Act of 1968 (enforcing authorities) shall apply in relation to the enforcement of this Act, by such an authority, as it applies in relation to the enforcement of that Act.
The Council and the assay offices may also enforce the provisions of this Act.
For the investigatory powers available to a local weights and measures authority, the Council and an assay office for the purposes of the duty in subsection (1) and the power in subsection (2), see Schedule 5 to the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Nothing in this section shall be taken as authorising the Council or an assay office to institute proceedings in Scotland for an offence.
Subsection (1) above shall not apply in relation to the enforcement of this Act in Northern Ireland but, in addition to the power given by subsection (2) above, it shall be the duty of the Ministry of Commerce for Northern Ireland to enforce this Act in Northern Ireland.
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Upon the conviction of any person of an offence under this Act the court may order any article the subject of the proceedings to be delivered to an assay office who (subject to the order) may exercise the like powers under this Act in relation to the article as if it had been submitted to them for hallmarking.
Any article delivered to an assay office pursuant to such an order as is mentioned in subsection (1) of this section shall be returned to the person entitled thereto.
Any dealer shall keep exhibited at all times, in a conspicuous position in a part of his premises to which those with whom he deals are commonly admitted, a notice in terms approved and in a form supplied by the Council describing such approved hallmarks and including such explanatory matter as the Council think fit; and it shall be an offence for any dealer to fail to exhibit or keep exhibited a notice required to be exhibited under this subsection.
The Council may make a reasonable charge for the supply of any copy of a notice required to be exhibited under this section.
Every assay office shall have power to make charges for assaying and hallmarking articles of precious metals not exceeding (in the case of articles manufactured in, or intended for sale or supply in, the United Kingdom) such charges as are for the time being directed in writing by the Council: Provided that the Secretary of State may from time to time give to the Council and to assay offices such directions as he considers expedient in relation to charges made under this subsection.
Subject to subsection (1) of this section, every assay office shall have power to make for services and facilities provided by them such charges as they from time to time think fit.
There shall be constituted a body, to be called the British Hallmarking Council, who shall be charged with the duty of ensuring that adequate facilities for the assaying and hallmarking of articles of precious metal are available as from time to time required in the United Kingdom, of supervising the activities of assay offices in that behalf, of taking all steps appearing to be open to them for ensuring the enforcement of the law with respect to hallmarking and of advising the Secretary of State with respect to all matters concerning the due execution of this Act including any matter which may be referred to the Council by the Secretary of State.
The Council shall come into existence on 1st January 1974 and on and after 1st January 1975 shall perform the functions assigned to them by or under this Act.
Schedule 4 to this Act shall have effect with respect to the Council.
Without prejudice to the last preceding subsection, the Council shall, in addition to the functions specifically conferred on them by or under any other provisions of this Act, have the following functions—
to advise the Secretary of State as they think fit with respect to the making of orders and regulations under this Act, and with respect to the amendment of the law as it affects, whether directly or indirectly, the hallmarking of articles of precious metal, including advice as to the application of some or all of the provisions of this Act to any metal other than gold, silver and platinum;
subject to any directions in that behalf given by the Secretary of State, to fix the maximum charges for the time being to be charged by assay offices for assaying and hallmarking articles of precious metal manufactured in or intended for sale in the United Kingdom;
to advise the Secretary of State upon any need appearing to the Council from time to time for the establishment of any further assay office or for the closure of any assay office or for their amalgamation with another assay office;
to assist, by the provision of such technical and other services of the Council as may be available, all authorities and persons concerned in the enforcement of this Act, to appoint such officers as the Council consider appropriate to act as inspectors and otherwise for the detecting of offences and enforcing this Act by or on behalf of the Council, and, otherwise than in Scotland, to institute proceedings in that behalf;
to authorise any assay office to carry on their business in whole or in part (subject to any conditions which may be specified by the Council in so authorising) in such place , whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere, as may be specified by the Council additional to the place at which the assay office are otherwise authorised;
to make temporary or permanent arrangements by directions, or to authorise the making of such arrangements between assay offices, whereby (notwithstanding anything in any enactment) facilities specified in any case by the Council need not be afforded at an assay office but are afforded at another or others;
to issue directions or regulations to all assay offices or, as the case may require, to any assay office in particular, as to the equipment and procedures to be provided and adopted by them in the assaying and hallmarking of precious metals and as to all other matters upon which such directions or regulations may be issued by the Council under the provisions of this Act; and
subject to such provisions of this Act as confer powers in particular on the Council, to do anything which in their opinion is calculated to facilitate the proper discharge of any or all of their functions.
It shall be the duty of an assay office to comply with directions and regulations issued by the Council pursuant to paragraph (f) or paragraph (g) of subsection (2) of this section: Provided that any assay office who are aggrieved by any such direction or regulation may make written representation in that behalf to the Secretary of State who may determine all issues which may be raised upon any such representation; and it shall be the duty of the Council to comply with any determination so made by the Secretary of State.
All directions, regulations, authorities, notices or other instruments given or made by the Council under or in pursuance of any provision of this Act shall be in writing and may be so given or made under the hand of the secretary or other officer of the Council authorised in that behalf.
If the Council consider, after consulting all the assay offices, that having regard to— any or all of the provisions of Schedule 4 to this Act are no longer appropriate and that alterations, additions or omissions thereto or therefrom should be made, the Council may make representation in that behalf to the Secretary of State, specifying the alterations, additions or omissions to or from the said Schedule which they consider should be made.
the establishment of a new assay office, the dissolution of any assay office or their amalgamation with another assay office; or
other substantial changes which have taken place or are to take place in the functions, administration or activities of any assay office; or
any other considerations (whether or not of a like character to those above-mentioned) appearing to the Council sufficient,
If the Secretary of State agrees with any representation so made to him, or if, having regard to the matters mentioned in the foregoing subsection, he considers it expedient to do so after consultation with the Council and despite the absence of any such representation, he may, subject to subsection (3) of this section, by order provide that there be made such alterations, additions or omissions to or from the said Schedule (whether or not the same as those specified in a representation where one has been made to him) as may be specified in the order.
An order made under this section may contain such transitional, incidental and supplementary provisions (including in a case falling within paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of this section provision for the winding up of any existing assay office and for the repeal of any local statutory provision relating to that assay office) as the Secretary of State considers expedient.
The provisions of Schedule 5 to this Act shall have effect with respect to the powers and duties of assay offices.
Without prejudice to the provisions of section 7 of and of Schedule 5 to this Act, nothing contained in this Act shall render any assay office liable as respects any damage caused by them to any article in the reasonable exercise or (as the case may be) discharge of any of the powers and duties conferred or imposed upon them by this Act.
The Secretary of State may at any time by order—
on the application of the Council, provide for the constitution of an assay office at such place as may be specified in the order; or
on the application of the Council, provide for the closure and dissolution of any assay office or their amalgamation with another assay office; or
on the application of an assay office, confer, vary or abolish duties or powers imposed or conferred on the assay office under any local statutory provision affecting their undertaking and for that purpose repeal or amend any such provision.
The Secretary of State may, without such application to him as aforesaid, if he thinks fit and after consultation with the Council and any assay office appearing to him to be concerned, make an order for any of the purposes mentioned in subsection (1) of this section.
Any order made under this section may contain such incidental, consequential and supplementary provisions as the Secretary of State thinks necessary or expedient for the purposes of the order, including provisions for the amendment, adaptation or repeal of any local statutory provision.
The provisions of Part I of Schedule 6 to this Act shall have effect with respect to orders under subsection (1) of this section upon application therefor to the Secretary of State; and the provisions of the said Part I shall, subject to the modifications specified in Part II of the said Schedule, have effect with respect to orders under subsection (2) of this section by the Secretary of State without such application being made to him.
The Secretary of State may at any time by order, either on the application of the Council or, if the Secretary of State thinks fit, of his own volition after consultation with the Council, apply the provisions of this Act (or such of them as may be specified in any such order) to any other metal than gold, silver and platinum and subject to such amendments and adaptations as in the order may be specified.
Any order made under this section may contain such incidental, consequential and supplementary provisions as the Secretary of State thinks necessary or expedient for the purposes of the order, including provisions applying, extending, excluding or amending, or repealing or revoking, with or without savings, any provisions of this Act or an instrument under this Act.
Any local statutory provision which is inconsistent with any provision of this Act shall cease to have effect.
The Secretary of State may on the application of an assay office, or, if he thinks fit, of his own volition, but in either case subject to the provisions of this section, by order repeal or amend any local statutory provision where it appears to him that that provision is inconsistent with, or has become unnecessary in consequence of, any provision of this Act.
Before making an order under this section the Secretary of State shall consult with any person or body representative of persons who appear to him to be concerned.
An order under this section may contain such transitional, supplemental or incidental provisions as appear to the Secretary of State to be expedient.
The Council shall, as soon as practicable after 31st December in each year, make to the Secretary of State a report on the performance by them of their functions during the period of twelve months ending with that date.
The report of the Council for any period under the last preceding subsection shall include a record of all questions with which the Council have been concerned during that period and which appear to the Council to be of general interest.
As soon as the accounts of the Council have been audited, the Council shall send a copy of the accounts to the Secretary of State; and a copy of the accounts shall be kept at the office of the Council and any person interested shall be entitled, free of charge, to inspect and to take copies of, or extracts from, the copy of the accounts.
Any person, on application to the Council, shall be entitled to be furnished with copies of reports of the Council under this section and of statements summarising the accounts of the Council, on payment of such reasonable sums as the Council may determine.
The Secretary of State may cause a local inquiry to be held in connection with the discharge of any of his functions under this Act or in any case where it appears to the Secretary of State to be expedient to do so in connection with any matter arising under this Act or otherwise in connection with any of the functions of assay offices or the Council, and—
in relation to any inquiry held in England or Wales, subsections (2) to (5) of section 250 of the Local Government Act 1972 (evidence and costs at local inquiries), but subsection (4) (costs of department) only in a case where the Secretary of State so directs, shall apply as if the inquiry were held in pursuance of subsection (1) of that section;
in relation to any inquiry held in Scotland, subsections (2) to (8) of section 210 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (provisions as to local inquiries) shall apply as if the inquiry were held in pursuance of subsection (1) of that section; and
in relation to any inquiry held in Northern Ireland, section 23 of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 (inquiries and investigations) shall apply as if this Act were an enactment, and the Secretary of State were a Minister, within the meaning of that Act.
The person appointed to hold an inquiry under the preceding subsection shall report the results thereof in writing to the Secretary of State, who shall publish the report together with such observations, if any, as he thinks fit to make thereon.
The Secretary of State may make regulations under this Act for any purpose for which regulations are authorised or required to be made by him under this Act.
Any such power to make regulations under this Act shall be exercisable by statutory instrument; and any instrument containing any such regulations shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
Any power conferred by this Act to make an order shall include a power to vary or revoke the order by a subsequent order.
Any power to make orders under this Act shall be exercisable by statutory instrument.
An order shall not be made under section 17 of this Act unless a draft of the order has been approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.
Any statutory instrument containing an order under section 14 of this Act shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
“functions ” includes powers and duties ;
References in this Act to an assay office shall, as respects an assay office who are engaged in the business of an assay office and who carry on any other activity, include reference to so much only of the undertaking of that assay office as relates wholly to their business as such an assay office and as may be certified in that behalf by that assay office.
References in this Act to any enactment shall be construed as references to that enactment as amended or extended by or under any other enactment including this Act.
The enactments specified in Schedule 7 to this Act are hereby repealed to the extent specified in the third column of that Schedule.
This Act may be cited as the Hallmarking Act 1973.
Section 13 of and Schedule 4 to this Act shall come into operation on 1st January 1974 and the remainder of this Act shall come into operation on 1st January 1975.
This Act extends to Northern Ireland . . . .