Explanatory note

This Order amends the categories of articles that are exempt from the prohibition in section 1 of the Hallmarking Act 1973 (the “1973 Act”) on describing unhallmarked articles as gold, silver or platinum.

Regulation 2(2) provides that any article of gold or silver or gold and silver of minimum fineness manufactured before 1950 is now exempt. This exemption had previously only applied to articles manufactured before 1920.

This Order was notified in draft to the European Commission in accordance with Directive 98/34/EC as amended by Directive 98/48/EC.

A full regulatory impact assessment of the effect that this Order will have on the costs to business is available from the Consumer and Competition Policy Directorate, Department of Trade and Industry 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H OET and is annexed to the Explanatory Memorandum which is available alongside the instrument on the OPSI website. Copies have been placed in the libraries of both Houses of Parliament.