News story

New Hallmarking Dealer鈥檚 Notice to be introduced

All dealers supplying precious metal items must display the new version from 1 May 2020.

Close up of the new dealer's notice to display in shops

皇冠体育app Dealer鈥檚 Notice, which must be displayed by all dealers supplying precious metal items, is being updated to add two new marks, in a version that will be compulsory from 1 May 2020.

皇冠体育app updated version incorporates:

  • a new differentiated hallmark for articles hallmarked outside of the UK by Birmingham Assay Office
  • a new type 2 standardised CCM mark.

One of the requirements of the Hallmarking Act 1973 is that all dealers supplying precious metal jewellery (or other items made of precious metal) shall display a notice explaining the approved hallmarks.

This must be the notice produced by the British Hallmarking Council (BHC).

New version

皇冠体育app Dealer鈥檚 Notice has been updated to incorporate the following.

A new differentiated hallmark for articles hallmarked outside of the UK by Birmingham Assay Office: the new differentiated Birmingham hallmark is now the only assay office mark being used on articles marked in Birmingham Assay Office鈥檚 sub-office in Mumbai. 皇冠体育app new mark consists of a vertical anchor and a compass with a cut cornered rectangular outline. 皇冠体育app decision to invoke a differentiated mark to be used by UK offices hallmarking outside of the UK was made by the British Hallmarking Council in March 2018. 皇冠体育app use of this mark has been compulsory since 1 April 2019.

A new type 2 standardised Common Control Mark (CCM) mark: 皇冠体育app type 1 or traditional CCM conformity mark uses a different shield shape for each precious metal. It also always contains the millesimal fineness of the alloy. 皇冠体育app new type 2 or standardised CCM mark is a single generic conformity mark used for all precious metals and finenesses. It must be accompanied by a mark specifying the millesimal fineness of the alloy and a unique mark for each precious metal or the chemical symbol for the precious metal. 皇冠体育appse accompanying fineness and metal identifying marks can be separate or combined.

Online retailers

皇冠体育app BHC鈥檚 view is that, although the Hallmarking Act makes no express reference to the internet, it applies to sales of, and other dealings with, articles made of precious metal conducted over the internet and accordingly dealers supplying precious metal articles online should display the Dealer鈥檚 Notice on their websites. A suitable format for this is available.

Dealer鈥檚 Notice from 1 May 2020

From 1 May 2020 the revised version will be the only legally recognised notice.

Following a 6 month period of grace this will become the only acceptable version as of 1 May 2020. This therefore replaces the previous version, last amended in 2015.

Read how to get the notice, from the 4 formats available, in our guidance Hallmarking: how businesses can comply with the law.

Updates to this page

Published 23 September 2019