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Homepage > Legislation > Swiss Legislation > SR 941.31 Federal Act on the Control of the Trade in Precious Metals and Precious Metal Articles (Precious Metals Control Act, PMCA)

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941.31

English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only and has no legal force.

Federal Act
on the Control of the Trade in Precious Metals
and Precious Metal Articles
(Precious Metals Control Act, PMCA)¹

of 20 June 1933 (Status as of 1 January 2011)

Section 1: Definitions

Art. 1 Precious metal, precious metal articles and multi-metal articles

Art. 2 Plated articles. Imitations

Section 2: Fineness

Art. 3 Legal standards of fineness

Art. 4

Art. 5 Error tolerance

Section 3: Trade in Finished Articles

Art. 6 Marking of goods; accuracy

Art. 7 Precious metal articles; fineness mark

Art. 7a Multi-metal articles; marking and appearance

Art. 8 Plated articles and imitations; marking

Art. 8a Other marks and exceptions

Art. 8b Material requirements; more specific provisions

Art. 9 Responsibility mark / a. Obligation

Art. 10 Responsibility mark / b. Composition

Art. 11 Responsibility mark / c. Application for registration

Art. 12 Responsibility mark / d. Registration

Art. 13 Controlling and hallmarking a. Precondition

Art. 14 Controlling and hallmarking a. Precondition / b. Purpose

Art. 15 Controlling and hallmarking a. Precondition / c. Officials Hallmarks

Art. 16 Controlling and hallmarking a. Precondition / d. Procedure

Art. 17 Controlling and hallmarking a. Precondition / e. Objection

Art. 18 Controlling and hallmarking a. Precondition / f. Fees. Right of retention. Appeal

Art. 19 Controlling and hallmarking a. Precondition / g. Enforcement provisions

Art. 20 Import

Art. 21 Export

Art. 22 Transit

Art. 22a Reporting of suspicious articles

Art. 23 Hawking ban

Section 4: Manufacture of Melt Products⁵

Art. 24 Manufacture of melt products / 1. Melter’s licence

Art. 25 Manufacture of melt products / 1. Melter’s licence / a. Requirements

Art. 26 Manufacture of melt products / 1. Melter’s licence / b. Granting. Renewal. Withdrawal

Art. 27

Art. 28 Manufacture of melt products / 2. ...

Art. 29

Art. 30 Manufacture of melt products / 2. ... / a. ...

Art. 31 Manufacture of melt products / 2. ... / b. Obligations of the licence holder. Marking

Art. 32 Determination of the fineness of melt products / a. Competence. Purpose

Art. 33 Determination of the fineness of melt products / b. Procedure

Art. 34 Approval procedure. Fees

Section 5: Organisation

Art. 35 Central Office / a. Reporting line

Art. 36 Central Office / b. Duties

Art. 37 Assay Offices / a. Establishment, dissolution

Art. 38 b. Duties

Art. 39 Official sworn assayers / a. Diploma

Art. 40 Official sworn assayers / b. Obligations. Responsibility

Art. 41 Trade assayers / a. Operating licence. Duties

Art. 42 Trade assayers / b. Obligations. Responsibility.

Section 6: Appeals

Art. 43

Section 7: Criminal Provisions⁶

Art. 44 1. Offences / a. Fraud

Art. 45 1. Offences / b. Counterfeiting and falsification of stamps

Art. 46 1. Offences / c. Improper use of stamps

Art. 47 1. Offences / d. Stamp requirements, violation; Misuse of marks and symbols; Alteration of hallmarks

Art. 48 1. Offences / e. Acts without a licence

Art. 49 1. Offences / f. Offences in hawking and in the acquisition of melt material

Art. 50 1. Offences / g. Unauthorised reproduction of articles

Art. 51 2. Offences in the course of business of legal entities and corporations

Art. 52 3. Confiscation

Art. 53 4. Federal criminal law, application

Art. 54 5. Criminal proceedings

Art. 55 6. Administrative offences / a. Criminal liability

Art. 56 6. Administrative offences / b. Applicable law and prosecuting authority

Section 8: Transitional and Final Provisions

Art. 57

Art. 58 Repeal of existing enactments

Art. 59 Commencement and execution

Final Provision of the Amendment of 17 June 1994⁸

Articles that were manufactured before the commencement of the Amendment of 17 June 1994 and which satisfy the previous but not the new provisions may be placed on the market on a commercial basis for a maximum of one year after commencement of this Amendment.

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 AS 50 345 und BS 10 130

¹ Amended in accordance with Art. 75 No. 2 of the Trademark Protection Act of 28 Aug. 1992, in force since 1 April 1993 (SR 232.11).
² [BS 1 3; AS 1981 1244]
³ Amended in accordance with No. I of the Federal Act of 17 June 1994, in force since 1 Aug. 1995 (AS 1995 3102 3109; BBl 1993 II 1033).
⁴ BBl 1931 I 888A
⁵ Amended in accordance with No. I 5 of the Federal Act of 21 Dec. 2007 on the Abolition and Simplification of Licensing Procedures, in force since 1 June 2008 (AS 2008 2265 2268; BBl 2007 315).
⁶ As of 1 Jan. 2007, the penalties threatened and the limitation periods are to be interpreted and converted in accordance with Art. 333 para. 2 to 6 of the Swiss Penal Code (SR 311.0) in the version of the Federal Act of 13 Dec. 2002 (AS 2006 3459).
⁷ Federal Council decree of 8 May 1934 (AS 50 362).
⁸ AS 1995 3102

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