Aanhef

The Republic of Austria, the Republic of Finland, the Kingdom of Norway, the Portuguese Republic, the Kingdom of Sweden, the Swiss Confederation and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland;

Desiring to facilitate international trade in articles of precious metals while at the same time maintaining consumer protection justified by the particular nature of these articles;

Considering that the international harmonisation of standards and technical regulations and guidelines for methods and procedures for the control and marking of precious metal articles is a valuable contribution to the free movement of such products;

Considering that this harmonisation should be supplemented by mutual recognition of control and marking and desiring therefore to promote and maintain co-operation between their assay offices and concerned authorities;

Having regard to the fact that compulsory hallmarking is not required from the Contracting States to the Convention and that the marking of articles of precious metals with the Convention marks is carried out on a voluntary basis;

Have agreed as follows: