Hallmarking policy

The Regulatory Delivery Directorate (RD) within the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has policy (legislative) responsibility for the hallmarking of precious metal articles. RD is responsible for implementing UKlegislation and any subsequent amendments to allow growth and development in hallmarking.

Inclusion of palladium

In July 2009 and January 2011 national and international policy were changed in order to add palladium as a precious metal allowing palladium articles to be hallmarked. For more information on the application of palladium to the international treaty, please see our guidance note.

Off-shore hallmarking

In February 2013 national legislation was changed to allow Assay Offices to apply UK hallmarks off-shore. This enables an off-shore sub-office to be set up in another country, enabling a manufacturer to have their precious metal articles hallmarked with UK hallmarks in that country. For further information on off-shore hallmarking please see our guidance note.

British Hallmarking Council

We are also the sponsor group of the British Hallmarking Council (BHC), a non-departmental public body set up by the Hallmarking Act 1973 to oversee hallmarking activities within the UK.

For further information on the BHC and hallmarking please visit the BHCwebsite.