Originally Posted by
SteveLAO
As you know, the hallmarking act only relates to transactions occurring in the UK. Dealing on the internet is a grey area I'm afraid, and regrettably the hallmarking act doesn't specifically cover internet selling at the moment. (I had a similar query over the display of a dealer's notice on websites which again isn't specifically covered). Trading standards, the enforcers of the law, are also a bit unclear as to where the "point of sale" occurs, with some saying it's where the transaction takes place (in your case IOM) while others are saying it's at the point of ordering (your customer's sitting room!) so it's all very confusing.
However, here is the latest as I now understand it:
As the IOM isn't part of the UK for the purposes of the act transactions which occur and are completed there are not covered by the act. On that basis, if your UK client concludes all his business with you on the IOM, which I guess is what is happening, then he can bring those goods into the UK without having to have a hallmark on them...until the time comes when he wants to sell them on here. At that time, as the next transaction will be conducted in the UK, your customer will have to have the items hallmarked at that point.
It's just the same as big retail jewellers who import their stock from the far east. It's not hallmarked when it comes into the UK, and it's down to the UK companies who wish to sell the goods on in the UK to comply with UK hallmarking laws.