BHC reappoints chair for third three-year term

The British Hallmarking Council (BHC) has appointed its current chair, Noel Hunter OBE, to serve for a third three-year term.

In his final term as chair, Hunter aims to improve the protection of UK consumers buying from the internet, where an increasing level of non-compliance has been detected, and therefore “provide a level playing field for the UK jewellery industry”.

The BHC said he will also continue to raise the profile of hallmarking with consumers and increase awareness of the protection the hallmark provides.

Lastly, he will advocate regulatory improvements to protect consumers buying online.

Hunter said: “Hallmarking has been around for 700 years and provides assurance and protection for consumers when they buy precious metal items. Jewellery is often brought to mark key moments of celebration in people’s lives and without a hallmark the provenance of products would be impossible to judge.

“The growth of global trade via the internet has brought with it new risks and challenges, hence my desire to focus our attention on this new frontier in retailing to ensure the consumer is as well protected there as in their local high street.”