The Ministry of Science and Technology is seeking public feedback on a draft Circular regulating the testing and management of measurement, quality, and gold content for jewelry and crafts, gold bars, and gold materials used in production, import, and circulation on the market.
Scope of the draft Circular
The draft Circular proposes to regulate testing and management of measurement and quality for:
- Jewelry and crafts imported, produced, manufactured, and circulated in the market.
- Gold bars imported and produced, and circulated in the market.
- Gold materials imported to produce gold bars and jewelry and crafts.
- Sale to enterprises.
- Commercial banks permitted to produce gold bars, jewelry, and crafts under the regulations.
Quality requirements for jewelry and crafts
Kara (K) classification
- Kara (K) is the unit representing the proportion of gold in the alloy, measured as 24 parts of the alloy.
- When classifying by Kara, jewelry and crafts are assigned to the nearest lower grade corresponding to the actual Kara value defined in Table 3 of Appendix I attached to the Circular (for example, 21.5K jewelry is designated as 21K gold).
Purity and gold content publication
- When classifying by purity or gold content, the actual value must be published (for example, if jewelry has a gold content of 78.0%, it should be published as 78.0% or 780).
Alloy classification and disclosure
- Jewelry and crafts with more than one main component (excluding solder and minor parts such as pins, screws, if present) are alloys with potentially different grade values as defined in Table 3 of Appendix I; they shall be classified by the lowest grade.
- The main component of the solder material and any minor parts must be clearly disclosed.
Use of base metals
- Jewelry and crafts may use base metals in alloys other than gold to enhance mechanical strength when a pure gold alloy does not meet requirements.
- The base metal must be surface-treated to avoid any visual confusion with gold alloys, and its use must be clearly disclosed in the product’s material disclosure.
Filling materials and inserts
- If the product uses filling materials or inserts, disclosure must be specific, and the product must not be entirely made from gold alloy.
Toxic components limits
- If sectoral law imposes limits on toxic components, jewelry and crafts (including base metals, surface finishes, solder, and fastening materials) must not contain toxic components or health hazards beyond permitted thresholds.
Testing tolerance and minimum gold content
- The tolerance for test results determining gold content for jewelry and crafts must meet the requirements in Table 4 of Appendix I attached to this Circular.
- Jewelry and crafts produced, imported, or circulated must ensure quality; the gold content (in the product or in components containing gold) must not be below the published standard.
Quality requirements for gold bars and gold materials
- Imported gold bars and gold material imports must have gold content of 99.5% or higher.
- Gold bars, when produced or imported, and gold materials circulated in the market, must meet quality standards with published gold content.
- The tolerance for test results must meet the standards in Table 4 of Appendix I.
Publication of applicable standards
Gold jewelry, gold bars, and gold materials circulated in the market must publish the applicable standards in accordance with the standards and technical regulations. Organizations and individuals are responsible under law for the content published.
- The published standards must not contradict this Circular or related laws.
- Publication must be carried out by producing, processing, or importing entities through one of the following methods:
- Publicly disclosed at points of sale.
- On product packaging.
- On product labels (including electronic labels).
- In accompanying product documents.
- On websites and other digital platforms, ensuring easy access, searchability, and retention of information during circulation.
Notes: Source: Minh Tú; Source: vtv.vn (Copy link) 06/12/2026 07:04 (GMT+7). Original article link: https://vtv.vn/de-xuat-quy-dinh-ve-quan-ly-chat-luong-vang-100260611174419562.htm
