Chapter 2 - Articles, Constitutional Convention & Ratification
Convention on the Control and Marking of Articles of ...
Transcript of Convention on the Control and Marking of Articles of ...
Convention on the
Control and Marking
of Articles of
Precious Metals
Standard
Presentation (last update: 11 June 2012)
Daniel Brunner
Secretary of the Convention
Geneva (Switzerland)
Introduction
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 ?
Part I
What is the
Convention ?
Convention
=
International treaty between
States on cross-border trade in
precious metals
Free trade area
for precious metals articles
« Schengen » for
precious jellewery and watches
Put in other words:
Precious Metals
Platinum
Gold
Silver
Palladium (since 2011)
Convention
signed in Vienna on 15 November
1972
Also referred to as:
Vienna Convention
Hallmarking Convention
Originally signed by 7 States
Today: 19 Contracting States
4 Applicant States
Candidates
Convention Members
Applicants
The Convention in Europe
How is the Convention organised?
Contracting States
Standing Committee
Chairman
Secretariat
Standing
Technical Group
Governing Principles
Dual representation
All decisions by consensus
Elected Chairman
Appointed Secretariat
Meeting in London
Part II
How does the
Convention work?
Goals of Convention
(a) Facilitate international trade
(b) Maintain fair trade
(c) Protect consumers
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:
How ?
Instrument: Common Control
Mark
System: Third party control
Common Control Mark (CCM)
Principle:
« Articles marked with the CCM are
imported without further testing or
marking »
Common Control Mark (CCM)
First and only international
hallmark / control mark
Same legal status as national
hallmark / control mark
CCM Statistics
+ 7,000% between 1977 and 2007!
Common Control Mark (CCM)
There are a number of legal &
technical requirements in order to
apply the CCM
Condition No 1
Articles must be assayed &
marked by an authorised Assay
Office (Art. 5)
Principle of independent third-party
verification
Authorised Assay Office
Art. 5 (1): “Each Contracting State shall
appoint one or more authorised assay
offices for the control and marking of
articles of precious metals as provided for
in Annex II.”
Condition No 2: 4 minimum marks
7 5 0
CCM
Assay
Office Mark
(control)
Responsi-
bility mark
Fineness
mark
Marks
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
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.”
Condition No 4:
Responsibility mark
must be registered in the country
applying the CCM – not in the
importing country!
Part III
How to join the
Convention ?
Conditions
1. Only a State can join
2. Must be recognised (United
Nations)
3. Hallmarking system
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)
Arrangements
=
Legislation
+
Organisation
Legislation
- Law on precious metals
- Law protecting marks against fakes &
forgeries
Organisation
=
Assay Office
+
Laboratory
Membership Procedure
Membership application
Inspection
Invitation
Ratification
Part IV
What are the benefits
?
Main benefits
Export facilitation
Fair & flexible system
Harmonisation of standards
Competitivity
Export facilitation
The Convention eliminates trade barriers and red tape
The CCM (symbol of quality) favours
exports
Fair & flexible system
All operators are treated equally
Win – Win for trade & consumers
(All benefit!)
CCM is purely voluntary
The Convention harmonises
* Control & marking (uniform)
* Standards: Convention = first & only
international agreement regulating
precious metals (see also CIBJO Blue Book)
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
Networking
To conclude…
CCM = Passport to …
www.hallmarkingconvention.org
Documents
* Convention & Annexes
* Schedules
* Compilation of Acts
* Information Brochure
THANK YOU FOR
YOUR PRECIOUS
ATTENTION !
All that glitters is
not gold