Competition Bureau
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What Is the Competition Bureau?The Competition Bureau is an independent law enforcement agency responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Competition Act, the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, the Textile Labelling Act and the Precious Metals Marking Act. Its role is to promote and maintain fair competition so that Canadians can benefit from competitive prices, product choice and quality services. Headed by the Commissioner of Competition, the organization investigates anti-competitive practices and promotes compliance with the laws under its jurisdiction. What Is the Precious Metals Marking Act?Jewellery and other articles made in whole or in part of precious metals (gold, silver, palladium and platinum), are commonly marked with symbols or terms which indicate their precious metal content ("quality marks"). The Precious Metals Marking Act sets out the marketplace rules for using quality marks. Dealers are not required to mark articles to indicate quality, but where a mark is used, it must truly and correctly indicate the precious metal content (within limited prescribed tolerance) and it must be applied in the manner authorized by the regulations. 
Quality MarksIn Canada the use of a quality mark is not compulsory. Where a quality mark is used, however, a trademark (either one that has been registered or applied for), or a recognized government mark, must also be used. The trademark identifies the person responsible for the quality of the article. The Precious Metals Marking Act and Regulations provide a number of permissible quality marks, depending on method of manufacture and the type and amount of precious metal in the article. GoldQuality Marks: karat, carat, Karat, Carat, Kt., Ct., K or C Gold is measured in karats, with 24 karats being pure gold. A 10 karat gold ring, therefore, contains 10/24ths fine gold. Karats are also sometimes expressed using a decimal figure, such as .416 fine gold (10K). The minimum allowable quality for karat gold is 9 karats. SilverQuality Marks: silver, sterling, sterling silver, argent, argent sterling, or the abbreviations of these terms. The quality marks or a decimal figure may be used on articles containing a minimum of 92.5 percent pure silver. Platinum and PalladiumQuality Marks: platinum, plat. or platine and palladium or pall. The quality marks for platinum may be used on articles composed of at least 95 percent platinum, 95 percent platinum and iridium, or 95 percent platinum and ruthenium. The quality marks for palladium may be used on articles composed of at least 95 percent palladium, or 90 percent palladium and 5 percent platinum, iridium, ruthenium, rhodium, osmium or gold. Gold Filled and Rolled Gold PlateQuality Marks: gold filled, G.F. or doublé d'or and rolled gold plate, R.G.P. or plaqué d'or laminé. Gold Filled and Rolled Gold Plate ArticlesIf an article other than optical frames, watch cases, hollow ware or flatware consists of a base metal to which a sheet of at least 10 karat gold has been bonded, this is indicated by the quality mark for gold filled. As well as being at least 10 karat gold, the weight of the gold sheet must be at least 1/20th the total weight of the item. The quality mark used may also specify the fraction showing the ratio of the weight of the gold in the article to the total weight of the article as well as a statement of the quality of the gold expressed in karats or decimals (for example, 1/20 10K G.F.). Rolled gold plate involves the same manufacturing process as gold filled, but the gold sheet used is less than 1/20th the total weight of the article. The sheet must still be at least 10 karat gold. Like gold filled articles, the quality mark used for rolled gold plate articles may include a weight ratio and a statement of quality (for example, 1/40 10K R.G.P.). Gold Filled and Rolled Gold Plate Watch CasesThe quality marks for gold filled watch cases are the same as those used on other articles, but must include a mention of the quality of the gold expressed in karats or decimals. The gold sheet must be at least 75 micrometers thick (for example, 14K G.F.). The quality marks for rolled gold plate watch cases are the same as those used on other articles, but must also include a mention of the quality of the gold expressed in karats or decimals. The gold sheet used may be between 35 and 75 micrometers thick (for example, 14K R.G.P.). Gold PlatedQuality Marks: gold electroplate, gold plated, G.E.P., electroplaqué d'or or or plaqué. The quality marks for gold plated indicate that an article has been electroplated with gold of at least 10 karats. There is no minimum thickness required for gold plated articles. VermeilQuality Marks: vermeil or vermil. The quality marks for vermeil may be used on an article made of silver of at least 92.5 percent purity and plated with gold of at least 10 karats. There is no minimum thickness required for the gold plated portion. Silver PlatedQuality Marks: silver electroplate, silver plate, silver plated, electroplaqué d'argent, plaqué d'argent, or the abbreviations of these terms. The quality marks for silver plated indicate that an article has been electroplated with silver of at least 92.5 percent purity. There is no minimum thickness required for silver plated articles. Gold or Silver Plated Hollow Ware (trays, goblets, etc.)Quality Marks: gold electroplate, gold plated, G.E.P., electroplaqué d'or or or plaqué and silver plate, silver plated, silverware, E.P., S.P., placage d'argent, plaqué d'argent or argenterie. Quality marks that are used on gold or silver plated hollow ware must include a mention of the base substance of the article, for example, G.E.P. brass (gold plated brass). The gold used must be of at least 10 karats and the silver must be of at least 92.5 percent purity. Gold or Silver Plated Flatware (knives, forks, spoons, etc.)Gold or silver plated flatware may be marked with the same quality marks used for gold or silver plated hollow ware. In addition, marks such as "triple plate" or "quadruple," which relate to the amount of silver used in the plating process, may also be used. For gold plated articles, the term "micrometre" or the symbol µm may be used where the plating is at least one micrometre thick. Where the base metal to which the plating is applied is 10% or more pure nickel, expressions such as "nickel-silver" "nickel-argent" or "N.S." may be used in conjunction with the appropriate quality mark. If the base metal contains less than 10% nickel, the base metal must be identified and marked on the article. For example, a silver-plated brass article would require the marking "S.P. brass." The gold used must be of at least 10 karats and the silver must be of at least 92.5 percent purity. How Do I File a Complaint?If you believe that someone has in some way contravened any of the legislation enforced and administered by the Bureau and you want to complain, you can telephone, fax, e-mail or write the Bureau at the numbers listed at the end of this publication. The Bureau conducts its investigations in private and keeps confidential the identity of the source and the information provided. However, if someone has important evidence about a contravention of any of the acts the Bureau administers, that person may be asked to testify in court.
Cat. No. RG52-29/6-2003 
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Created: 2003-02-11 Updated: 2005-11-03 |
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