SLIDE 1 Convention on the Control and Marking
Precious Metals
Standard Presentation
(last update: 11 June 2012)
SLIDE 2 Daniel Brunner Secretary of the Convention Geneva (Switzerland)
info@hallmarkingconvention.org
Introduction
SLIDE 3 Overview of presentation
- I- What is the Convention ?
- II- How does the Convention work ?
- III- How to join the Convention ?
- IV- What are the benefits ?
SLIDE 4
Part I
What is the Convention ?
SLIDE 5
Convention = International treaty between States on cross-border trade in precious metals
SLIDE 6
Free trade area for precious metals articles « Schengen » for precious jellewery and watches
Put in other words:
SLIDE 7 Precious Metals
Platinum Gold Silver
Palladium (since 2011)
SLIDE 8 Convention
signed in Vienna on 15 November 1972
Also referred to as:
Vienna Convention
Hallmarking Convention
SLIDE 9
Originally signed by 7 States
Today: 19 Contracting States 4 Applicant States Candidates
SLIDE 10
Convention Members
SLIDE 11
Applicants
SLIDE 12
The Convention in Europe
SLIDE 13 How is the Convention
SLIDE 14 Contracting States Standing Committee Chairman Secretariat Standing Technical Group
SLIDE 15 Governing Principles
- Dual representation
- All decisions by consensus
- Elected Chairman
- Appointed Secretariat
SLIDE 16
Meeting in London
SLIDE 17
Part II
How does the Convention work?
SLIDE 18 Goals of Convention
(a) Facilitate international trade (b) Maintain fair trade (c) Protect consumers
SLIDE 19 Preamble
The Republic of Austria, the Republic of Finland, the Kingdom of Norway, the Portuguese Republic, the Kingdom of Sweden, the Swiss Confederation and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; Desiring to facilitate international trade in articles of precious metals while at the same time maintaining consumer protection justified by the particular nature of these articles; Have agreed as follows:
SLIDE 20
How ? Instrument: Common Control Mark System: Third party control
SLIDE 21
Common Control Mark (CCM) Principle: « Articles marked with the CCM are imported without further testing or marking »
SLIDE 22 Common Control Mark (CCM)
- First and only international
hallmark / control mark
- Same legal status as national
hallmark / control mark
SLIDE 23
CCM Statistics
+ 7,000% between 1977 and 2007!
SLIDE 24
Common Control Mark (CCM) There are a number of legal & technical requirements in order to apply the CCM
SLIDE 25
Condition No 1
Articles must be assayed & marked by an authorised Assay Office (Art. 5) Principle of independent third-party verification
SLIDE 26 Authorised Assay Office
- Art. 5 (1): “Each Contracting State shall
appoint one or more authorised assay
- ffices for the control and marking of
articles of precious metals as provided for in Annex II.”
SLIDE 27 Condition No 2: 4 minimum marks
7 5 0
CCM Assay Office Mark (control) Responsi- bility mark Fineness mark
SLIDE 28
Marks
SLIDE 29 Condition No 3:
Fineness must be legal in the country!
Convention fineness: Pt: 999, 950, 900, 850 Au: 999, 916, 750, 585, 375 Ag: 999, 925, 830, 800
SLIDE 30 Fineness
- Art. 1 (2): “Nothing in this Convention shall require
a Contracting State to allow the importation or sale of articles of precious metals which are not defined in its national legislation or do not comply with its national standards of fineness.”
SLIDE 31
Condition No 4:
Responsibility mark must be registered in the country applying the CCM – not in the importing country!
SLIDE 32
SLIDE 33
Part III
How to join the Convention ?
SLIDE 34 Conditions
- 1. Only a State can join
- 2. Must be recognised (United
Nations)
SLIDE 35 Hallmarking System
« Arrangements for the independent assaying and marking of articles of precious metals »
- - > compulsory (e.g. UK)
- - > voluntary (e.g. Sweden)
- - > mixed (e.g. CH)
SLIDE 36
Arrangements
= Legislation + Organisation
SLIDE 37 Legislation
- Law on precious metals
- Law protecting marks against fakes &
forgeries
SLIDE 38
Organisation
= Assay Office + Laboratory
SLIDE 39 Membership Procedure
Membership application Inspection Invitation Ratification
SLIDE 40
Part IV
What are the benefits ?
SLIDE 41
Main benefits
Export facilitation Fair & flexible system Harmonisation of standards Competitivity
SLIDE 42
Export facilitation
The Convention eliminates trade barriers and red tape The CCM (symbol of quality) favours exports
SLIDE 43 Fair & flexible system
All operators are treated equally Win – Win for trade & consumers (All benefit!) CCM is purely voluntary
SLIDE 44
The Convention harmonises
* Control & marking (uniform) * Standards: Convention = first & only international agreement regulating precious metals (see also CIBJO Blue Book)
SLIDE 45 Competitivity
(i) It gives Convention countries a competitive advantage in terms of market location (ii) It increases competition between Assay Offices (€, h, service) (iii) It gives CCM articles an advantage in terms of marketing & quality
SLIDE 46
Networking
SLIDE 47
To conclude…
SLIDE 48
CCM = Passport to …
SLIDE 49 www.hallmarkingconvention.org
SLIDE 50 Documents
* Convention & Annexes * Schedules * Compilation of Acts * Information Brochure
SLIDE 51 THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRECIOUS ATTENTION !
All that glitters is not gold
