Arabic
With the help of Allah the Almighty
We, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud,
the King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
based on article 70 of the Basic Law of Governance issued by Royal Order O/90 dated 27 Sha’ban 1412 [2 March 1992],
based on article 20 of the Law of the Council of Ministers issued by Royal Order O/13 dated 3 Rabi Al-Awwal 1414 [21 August 1993],
based on article 18 of the Law of the Shura Council issued by Royal Order O/91 dated 27 Sha’ban 1412 [2 March 1992],
after perusal of Shura Council Decision 256/24 dated 16 Ramadan 1445 [26 March 2024],
and after perusal of Council of Ministers Decision 269 dated 28 Rabi Al-Awwal 1446 [2 October 2024],
have decreed as follows
First
The Law of Precious Metals and Gemstones, issued by Royal Decree D/42 dated 10 Rajab 1403 [23 April 1983] is hereby amended, as follows:
1. Article 1 is amended to read as follows:
1. The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources shall supervise and control the manufacture of precious metals, gemstones, their works, and items plated, coated, and inlaid with them as specified in the regulations.
2. The Ministry of Commerce shall supervise and control the trade in precious metals, gemstones, their works, and items plated, coated, and inlaid with them, as specified in the regulations.
2. Article 2 is amended to read as follows:
1. Taking into account the provisions of other regulations, it is not permitted to practice the manufacture of precious metals and gemstones except after obtaining a license to do so from the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, in accordance with the controls and conditions specified in the regulations.
2. The regulations must determine the fee for licenses and services provided in accordance with the provisions of this law.
3. Article 10 is amended to read as follows:
The Ministry of Commerce, in agreement with the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, shall oblige owners of precious metal factories and workshops to use stamp marks to distinguish their works, which must be registered as specified in the regulations.
4. Article 12 is amended to read as follows:
It is permitted to hold exhibitions of precious metals, gemstones, and other works subject to this law with a license from the Saudi Conventions and Exhibitions General Authority in coordination with the Ministry of Commerce. It is permitted to exempt exhibits from stamping and some other procedures stipulated in this law if the intention is to display them only, as specified in the regulations.
5. Article 13 is amended to read as follows:
1. Employees—to be specified by a decision issued by the Minister of Commerce in agreement with the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources—shall jointly or individually police, investigate, and record violations of the provisions of this law and regulations. The regulations must determine their work mechanisms.
2. The employees—referred to in paragraph 1 of this article—have the right to enter and inspect factories, workshops, stores, warehouses, and all places where items subject to this law are manufactured or displayed. They may take samples of the materials and items present in them to examine and analyze them if necessary. They shall prepare a report of this incident in which the details of the facility, samples, materials, and items taken from it are recorded, as specified in the regulations.
6. Article 19 is amended to read as follows:
It is permitted for the judgment or decision issued with the penalty to include—as the case may be—a provision for publishing its text at the expense of the violator in a local newspaper published in his place of residence. If there is no newspaper in his place of residence, then in the area closest to him, or publishing it in any other appropriate means, according to the type of violation committed, its severity, and its impact, provided that the publication is after the judgment has obtained final status or the decision has become immune due to the expiry of the period for filing a complaint against it or the issuance of a final judgment rejecting the complaint.
7. Article 20 is amended to read as follows:
1. The competent court shall consider cases arising from the violations referred to in articles 14, 15 and 16 of this law, and impose penalties against violators.
2. The Public Prosecution shall—in accordance with its law—undertake the investigation of the violations referred to in articles 14, 15 and 16 of this law, and prosecute them before the competent court.
3. The other violations of the provisions of this law and its regulations, and the imposition of the penalty stipulated in article 17 of this law, must be considered by a committee or more formed by a decision of the Minister of Commerce in agreement with the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for a renewable period of three years. It must consist of no less than three members. The decision to form the committee must specify its chairman, provided that he is a specialist in Sharia or laws. Its decisions must be issued by majority and must be reasoned.
4. The regulations must determine the rules of work of the committee—referred to in paragraph 3 of this article—its procedures, and its remuneration.
5. It is permitted to object against decisions of the committee—referred to in paragraph 3 of this article—before the competent court.
8. Article 21 is amended to read as follows:
The Minister of Commerce, in agreement with the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, shall issue the regulations and decisions necessary to implement the provisions of this law.
Second
The amendment to the law—referred to in clause First of this Decree—comes into effect after the lapse of one year from the date of its publication.
Third
The Minister of Commerce, in agreement with the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, shall issue the regulations and decisions necessary to implement the provisions of the law, before the entry into force of the amendment to the law referred to in clause First of this decree.
Fourth
Anyone who engages in any of the activities related to the precious metals and gemstones industry shall apply to the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources to amend his status in accordance with the amendment to the law—referred to in clause First of this decree—within a period not exceeding six months from the date of its entry into force. The Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources may extend it for three months.
Fifth
The Prime Minister, the ministers, and the heads of independent concerned authorities—each within their area of competence—shall implement this decree of Ours.
Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud
Issued on: 3 Rabi Al-Thani 1446
Corresponding to: 7 October 2024
Published in Umm Al-Qura 5051 issued on 11 October 2024.
