Article 10 of the Saudi Precious Metals and Gemstones Law
المادة 10 من نظام المعادن الثمينة والأحجار الكريمة
The article permits the Ministry of Commerce, in agreement with the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, to require precious metal factories and workshops to use hallmark marks that distinguish their articles and are registered as the regulations specify.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
لوزارة التجارة، بالاتفاق مع وزارة الصناعة والثروة المعدنية، إلزام أصحاب مصانع ومشاغل المعادن الثمينة باستخدام علامات دمغ، لتمييز مشغولاتهم، تسجل وفقاً لما تحدده اللوائح
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 10 explained in plain English
This article concerns a special mark that the factory or workshop puts on its articles, different from the karat hallmark.
- The body with the power: the Ministry of Commerce, in agreement with the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources.
- Those addressed: the owners of precious metal factories and workshops.
- What is required: using hallmark marks to distinguish their articles, so that the source of the piece is known.
- Registration: these marks are registered as the regulations specify.
The requirement here is a permissive power of the Ministry ("the Ministry of Commerce may... require"), and it becomes a duty on factories and workshops once the Ministry decides it in agreement with the Ministry of Industry.
The article in its present text was issued by Royal Decree No. M/87 dated 3/4/1446 AH, and the amendment takes effect from 8/4/1447 AH.
This article comes after Article 9, which permits the Ministry of Commerce to issue a decision recognizing the hallmark of a country. It is followed by Article 11, which turns to gemstones: it prohibits selling them, displaying them or possessing them for sale unless they are accompanied by a written declaration from the person concerned giving their details. Anyone who runs a factory or workshop may consult a lawyer specializing in commercial cases to learn what is required of them.
Practical example
A jewelry factory in Jeddah has been required by the Ministry of Commerce, in agreement with the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, to use a hallmark mark. It must put its mark, registered as the regulations specify, on its articles, so that it is known the piece is its product.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 10 of the Saudi Precious Metals and Gemstones Law
Must a gold factory put its own mark on its articles?
The Ministry of Commerce may, in agreement with the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, require it to use hallmark marks to distinguish its articles.
How are factory and workshop hallmark marks registered?
They are registered as the regulations specify.
Amendment history
Royal Decree No. M/87 — 3/4/1446 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
- صدر المرسوم الملكي رقم (م/87) بتاريخ 1446/4/3هـ بتعديل هذه المادة، ويعمل بالتعديل من تاريخ 1447/4/8هـ، لتصبح بالنص الآتي:
"لوزارة التجارة، بالاتفاق مع وزارة الصناعة والثروة المعدنية، إلزام أصحاب مصانع ومشاغل المعادن الثمينة باستخدام علامات دمغ، لتمييز مشغولاتهم، تسجل وفقاً لما تحدده اللوائح".
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
يجوز لوزارة التجارة إلزام أصحاب مشاغل المعادن الثمينة باستخدام علامات دمغ؛ لتمييز مشغولاتهم تسجل لدى الوزارة.
More articles on Hallmarking Precious Metals and Karats
- Article 4
The article prohibits selling, displaying or possessing for sale bars and articles of precious metals unless they are stamped with the Kingdom's hallmark.
يحظر بيع سبائك ومشغولات المعادن الثمينة أو عرضها أو حيازتها بقصد البيع ما لم تكن مدموغة بسمة المملكة.
- Article 5
The article requires customs or the post, after notifying the person concerned, to send parcels imported for trade that contain precious metals to the Ministry of Commerce for examination and hallmarking, or to confirm they bear a recognized hallmark.
تقوم الجهات المختصة بالجمارك أو البريد - بعد إخطار صاحب الشأن - بإرسال الطرود المحتوية على سبائك أو مشغولات المعادن الثمينة، وغيرها من الأصناف الخاضعة لأحكام هذ
- Article 6
The article requires bars and articles to be presented to the Ministry of Commerce for examination and hallmarking by the legal karat standards, and provides that those below the minimum are broken and returned to the owner, who may re-export imported ones.
تقدم سبائك ومشغولات المعادن الثمينة إلى الجهة المختصة بوزارة التجارة لفحصها ودمغها طبقًا للعيارات النظامية. فإذا تبين أنها تقل عن الحد الأدنى للعيارات النظامية
- Article 7
The article prohibits making any change to precious metal bars or articles after they are hallmarked because of preparing them for sale, except what the necessities of the craft require and in accordance with the Ministry of Commerce's instructions.
لا يجوز إحداث أي تغيير في سبائك أو مشغولات المعادن الثمينة بعد دمغها من قبل وزارة التجارة بسبب عمليات إعدادها للبيع إلا ما توجبه ضرورات الصناعة وطبقًا للتعليمات
- Article 8
The article prohibits selling, displaying or possessing for sale articles and coated, inlaid or plated items unless hallmarked in the way set for each type, or accompanied by a details card where hallmarking is impossible.
يحظر بيع مشغولات المعادن الثمينة والأصناف الملبسة أو المطعمة أو المطلية أو عرضها للبيع أو حيازتها بقصد البيع ما لم تكن مدموغة على النحو التالي: أ - تدمغ مشغولات
- Article 9
The article permits the Ministry of Commerce to issue a decision recognizing the hallmark of a country.
يجوز لوزارة التجارة إصدار قرار باعتماد دمغة إحدى الدول.
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.