Swedac is the government authority responsible for surveillance of trade with articles of precious metals. Swedac is also responsible that applicable regulations are followed according to the requirements of this field. Furthermore, Swedac approves and maintains the national name mark register, establishes Swedish town marks for articles of precious metals and accredits (assesses the competence of) the inspection bodies that may conduct control marking.
Under the supervision responsibility, Swedac performs marketing surveillance by visiting manufacturers, importers and wholesalers but also pawnshops, markets and jewellery shops. To ensure that the products fulfil the regulations concerning stamps, given fineness and other requirements, Swedac performs spot checks. Market surveillance contributes to a well-functioning market and a continued interest among business and consumers.
The Convention on the Control and Marking of Articles of Precious Metals and the Convention’s Common Control Mark (CCM)
Sweden is a member of the organisation Convention on the Control and Marking of Articles of Precious Metals. The convention is an agreement between several countries on a common stamp on gold, silver and platinum in order to create uniform rules.
By means of the convention’s common marking, the precious metals can be sold in different countries without the need to be re-hallmarked according to the country’s own rules, provided that the country is a member of the convention.
Articles of precious metals that fulfil the demands of the convention are hallmarked with the Common Control Mark, i.e. the CCM hallmark. Articles bearing the CCM hallmark may be sold without any additional requirements in Austria, Cyprus The Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, provided that the articles fulfil the countries’ national requirements regarding fineness.
The convention was incorporated in Swedish law by The Ordinance (1975:49) on Common Control Marks for Articles of Gold, Silver and Platinum.