OpenLegislation

Hallmarking Act 1973

1973 c. 43 · Enacted 25 July 1973 · Extends to United Kingdom

Up to date with all changes known to legislation.gov.uk, revised to 6 April 2025.

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.[25th July 1973]I1C1C2

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

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.

C2

Act modified (22.7.2009) by Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2040), art. 2(1)

Commencement

I1

Act wholly in force at 1. 1. 1975 see s. 24(2)

Contents

  1. 1Prohibited descriptions of unhallmarked articles.
  2. 2Meaning of approved hallmarks, etc.
  3. 3Sponsors’ marks.
  4. 4Approved hallmarks.
  5. 4AAssay office carrying on business outside the United Kingdom
  6. 5Alterations to hallmarked articles.
  7. 6Counterfeiting, etc. of dies and marks.
  8. 7Treatment by assay offices of unauthorised marks.
  9. 8Offences.
  10. 9Enforcement of Act.
  11. 10Treatment of articles following convictions.
  12. 11Dealers to exhibit notices as to hallmarks.
  13. 12Charges for assaying and hallmarking, etc.
  14. 13The British Hallmarking Council.
  15. 14Power to alter, etc., constitution of Council.
  16. 15Functions of assay offices, etc.
  17. 16Orders constituting, dissolving, etc., or conferring powers on assay offices.
  18. 17Application of Act to other metals by order.
  19. 18Local Acts and instruments.
  20. 19Reports and accounts.
  21. 20Local inquiries.
  22. 21Regulations and orders.
  23. 22Interpretation.
  24. 23Repeals.
  25. 24Short title, commencement and extent.
  26. Schedule 1: Unhallmarked Articles
  27. Part I: Permissible Descriptions
  28. 1Paragraph 1
  29. 2Paragraph 2
  30. Part II: Exempted Articles
  31. 1Paragraph 1
  32. 2Paragraph 2
  33. 3Paragraph 3
  34. 4Paragraph 4
  35. 5Paragraph 5
  36. 6Paragraph 6
  37. 7Paragraph 7
  38. 8Paragraph 8
  39. 9Paragraph 9
  40. 9AParagraph 9A
  41. Articles exempt if of minimum fineness
  42. 10Paragraph 10
  43. 11Paragraph 11
  44. 12Paragraph 12
  45. 12AParagraph 12A
  46. 12BParagraph 12B
  47. 12CParagraph 12C
  48. 12DParagraph 12D
  49. 13Paragraph 13
  50. 14Paragraph 14
  51. 14AParagraph 14A
  52. 14AAParagraph 14AA
  53. 14BParagraph 14B Repealed
  54. Existing exemptions
  55. 15Paragraph 15
  56. 16Paragraph 16
  57. 17Paragraph 17
  58. Articles manufactured before a given date
  59. 18Paragraph 18
  60. Part III: Use of the Words “Carats”, “Sterling” and “Britannia”
  61. 1Paragraph 1
  62. 2Paragraph 2
  63. 3Paragraph 3
  64. Part IV: Power to Amend
  65. 1Paragraph 1
  66. Schedule 2: Approved Hallmarks
  67. Part I: ARTICLES COMPRISED OF A SINGLE PRECIOUS METAL
  68. 1Paragraph 1
  69. 2Paragraph 2
  70. 3Paragraph 3
  71. 4Paragraph 4
  72. 5Paragraph 5
  73. Part 2: ARTICLES COMPRISED OF TWO OR MORE PRECIOUS METALS
  74. 6Paragraph 6
  75. 7Paragraph 7
  76. 8Paragraph 8
  77. 9Paragraph 9
  78. 10Paragraph 10
  79. 11Paragraph 11
  80. 12Paragraph 12
  81. 13Paragraph 13
  82. 14Paragraph 14
  83. 15Paragraph 15
  84. Part 3: ARTICLES COMPRISED OF PRECIOUS METAL PARTS AND OTHER MATERIALS
  85. 16Paragraph 16
  86. 17Paragraph 17
  87. 18Paragraph 18
  88. 19Paragraph 19
  89. Part IV: General
  90. 20Paragraph 20
  91. Schedule 3: Provisions as to Offences
  92. Penalties for offences
  93. 1Paragraph 1
  94. Time limit for prosecutions
  95. 2Paragraph 2
  96. Offences by corporations
  97. 3Paragraph 3
  98. Offences due to fault of other person
  99. 4Paragraph 4
  100. Innocent publication of advertisement
  101. 5Paragraph 5
  102. Defence in proceedings under section 1
  103. 6Paragraph 6
  104. Schedule 4: The British Hallmarking Council
  105. Constitution
  106. 1Paragraph 1
  107. 2Paragraph 2
  108. 3Paragraph 3
  109. 4Paragraph 4
  110. 5Paragraph 5
  111. 6Paragraph 6
  112. 7Paragraph 7
  113. 8Paragraph 8
  114. 9Paragraph 9
  115. 10Paragraph 10
  116. 11Paragraph 11
  117. 12Paragraph 12
  118. 13Paragraph 13
  119. 14Paragraph 14
  120. Committees
  121. 15Paragraph 15
  122. Standing Orders
  123. 16Paragraph 16
  124. Incorporation, etc.
  125. 17Paragraph 17
  126. Expenses and Accounts
  127. 18Paragraph 18
  128. 19Paragraph 19
  129. 20Paragraph 20
  130. Officers and Servants
  131. 21Paragraph 21
  132. Schedule 5: Powers and Duties of Assay Offices
  133. Submission of new wares for assaying and hallmarking
  134. 1Paragraph 1
  135. Assaying and hallmarking
  136. 2Paragraph 2
  137. Inspections by H.M. Mint
  138. 3Paragraph 3
  139. Safe custody of marks
  140. 4Paragraph 4
  141. Schedule 6: Procedures for Orders
  142. Part I: Orders Under Section 16(1) on Application
  143. 1Paragraph 1
  144. 2Paragraph 2
  145. 3Paragraph 3
  146. 4Paragraph 4
  147. 5Paragraph 5
  148. 6Paragraph 6
  149. 7Paragraph 7
  150. 8Paragraph 8
  151. 9Paragraph 9
  152. 10Paragraph 10
  153. Part II: Modifications of Part I of this Schedule for Purposes of Orders Under Section 16(2) Where no Application
  154. 11Paragraph 11
  155. Schedule 7: Enactments Repealed
  156. Part I—Public General Acts
  157. Acts of Parliament of Ireland
  158. Part II—Local Acts