Article 6 of the Saudi Precious Metals and Gemstones Law
المادة 6 من نظام المعادن الثمينة والأحجار الكريمة
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تقدم سبائك ومشغولات المعادن الثمينة إلى الجهة المختصة بوزارة التجارة لفحصها ودمغها طبقًا للعيارات النظامية. فإذا تبين أنها تقل عن الحد الأدنى للعيارات النظامية تكسر وترد إلى مالكها، وله في كل الأحوال طلب إعادة تصديرها إلى مصدرها على حالتها إذا كانت مستوردة.
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 6 explained in plain English
This article explains what happens when bars and articles of precious metals are examined:
- Presenting for examination: bars and articles are presented to the competent body at the Ministry of Commerce to be examined and hallmarked according to the legal karat standards.
- If they are below the minimum: if they are found to be below the minimum legal karat standards they are broken and returned to their owner; they are not confiscated, but the owner gets them back broken.
- Imported ones: the owner may in all cases ask to re-export them to their source in their condition if they were imported.
This ruling connects to Article 5, which requires customs or the post, after notifying the person concerned, to send parcels imported for trade to the competent body at the Ministry of Commerce to examine, analyze and stamp them with the Kingdom's hallmark or confirm they bear a recognized hallmark.
After hallmarking comes Article 7, which prohibits making any change to the bars or articles after they are hallmarked because of the operations of preparing them for sale, except what the necessities of the craft require and in accordance with the Ministry of Commerce's instructions.
The Law does not state the values of the legal karat standards in this article. Anyone who believes their goods were examined or assessed incorrectly may consult a lawyer specializing in commercial cases.
Practical example
A merchant in Riyadh imported a shipment of gold earrings, and when they were examined at the competent body of the Ministry of Commerce it turned out that their karat was below the legal minimum. Either they will be broken and returned to him, or he may ask to re-export them to their source in their condition because they were imported.
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 6 of the Saudi Precious Metals and Gemstones Law
What happens if the gold's karat is below the minimum?
It is broken and returned to its owner.
Can I send imported gold of insufficient karat back to its country?
Yes. The owner may in all cases ask to re-export it to its source in its condition if it was imported.
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 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.
- Article 10Amended by M/87
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.
لوزارة التجارة، بالاتفاق مع وزارة الصناعة والثروة المعدنية، إلزام أصحاب مصانع ومشاغل المعادن الثمينة باستخدام علامات دمغ، لتمييز مشغولاتهم، تسجل وفقاً لما تحدده
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.