What happens between the coming into force date and 1st January 2010?
Manufacturers, retailers, buyers, owners, etc, can choose whether or not to have palladium hallmarked. However, assay offices cannot refuse to hallmark palladium articles that are submitted to them in accordance with the provisions in section 4 and the Schedules of the Hallmarking Act. They will have the power to charge for this assaying under section 12 of the Act from commencement. From the coming into force date, the description of fineness for an item of palladium will constitute advertising within the meaning of the Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008 and will also constitute a commercial practice within the meaning of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. Once the Order comes into force, the provisions of the Act will apply to palladium apart from the exemption provision in Schedule 1, Part II, s9, which won’t kick in until January 2010.
