Editor’s Note
The government moves to modernize jewelry regulation, introducing a bill to address a legal framework unchanged since 1999.
Officially, 475 jewelers operate under an “incomplete” legal framework dating back to 1999. The government therefore plans to regulate the production and sale of silver and costume jewelry, as well as precious and semi-precious stones. Gold is, in principle, already regulated. The Jewellery Bill will be presented for first reading in the National Assembly today.
While the law is technical and primarily concerns the control of jewelry and jewelers, the goal is to ensure better protection for customers through improved oversight of sold jewelry. Once this law is enacted, every jewelry buyer will not only be informed of the details of their purchase—since this information will be engraved on the piece—but will also receive a certificate attesting to the jewelry’s authenticity.
Imported jewelry will also be subject to this regulation. Any sale of unmarked jewelry will become illegal. Individuals may also present a piece of jewelry or precious metal to the Assay Office (the authority that will oversee jewelry sales and production) for examination and to receive a certificate. Precious or semi-precious stones can also be submitted. The office will examine them and issue an authenticity certificate.
But beyond the issues addressed by the Jewellery Bill, there appears to be unease within the industry.
The law does not seem to address this issue, even though authorities want to professionalize the trade. In the meantime, a Controller of Assay will be appointed. He will head a nine-member council. This council will serve as an advisory body to the supervising minister on the jewelry industry, including industry promotion, consumer interest protection, jewelry verification, assaying and marking, as well as the production, import, and export of jewelry.
