<% set cnn = Server.CreateObject("ADODB.Connection") set Recordset1 = Server.CreateObject("ADODB.Recordset") cnn.Open "driver={Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb)};;DBQ=C:\inetpub\wwwroot\hallmarking\stat\stats.mdb;" sqltext = "SELECT * FROM tracking" Recordset1.Open sqltext,cnn,3,3 Recordset1.AddNew Recordset1.Fields("page_visited") = request.ServerVariables("SCRIPT_NAME") Recordset1.Fields("platform") = request.ServerVariables("HTTP_USER_AGENT") Recordset1.Fields("referrer") = request.ServerVariables("HTTP_Referer") Recordset1.Fields("timed") = Time Recordset1.Fields("dated") = Date Recordset1.Fields("host") = request.ServerVariables("REMOTE_HOST") Recordset1.Update %> <% Recordset1.Close() %> News at the British Hallmarking Council

 

 



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Draft Directive concerning Hallmarking

At a meeting of the permanent representatives of the EU countries on 19 November 2003 it was decided that the Draft Directive should not be progressed by being put before the Council of Ministers. The effect of this is thought to be to bring discussions about a Directive to an end for the foreseeable future.

There are other draft Directives in process which could be relevant to hallmarking in the UK, although the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive contains an express exemption for the UK system. The potential impact of the Services Directive is under close review by DTI.

Marking outside the UK

Recently one of the Assay Offices in Holland has begun to mark items with the Convention mark and/or the Dutch national mark at a manufacturers premises in China. Further, the Office concerned, with the support of the Dutch Economic Affairs Ministry, has claimed that these marks ought to be recognised as valid under the International Hallmarking Convention or under Houtwipper principles.

National Weights and Measures Laboratory, the British Hallmarking Council and the Assay Offices take issue with these claims, and are of the view that marks applied in China or elsewhere outside the home territory of an Assay Office are not valid.

At a meeting of the members of the Convention in the autumn of 2006 all of the members except Holland expressed sympathy with this position, and subsequently the Dutch Office agreed to discontinue marking in China in December 2006. It appears that the Dutch national mark continues to be applied in China premises and this is the subject of continuing contact with Dutch Economic Affairs Ministry.

Amendments to the Hallmarking Act 1973

On 6 April 2007 two statutory instruments came into force to amend the law relating to the marking of mixed metal items (2007 No 872) and the exemptions relating to unmarked items of minimum fineness manufactured before 1920 (2007 No 880). Information about the effect of these changes is available from the Secretary and the Assay Masters, and a fact sheet is in the publications section.

Palladium

Council has proposed to Government that palladium should be brought under the hallmarking regime and discussions about that are ongoing.

Services Directive

It has become apparent that the countries within the EEA do not have a common view about whether the Directive applies to hallmarking, and this is being discussed within Government and with the European Commission.

 

 
 
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