Russian Federation [Licensed export (miner, refiner or bank)] → United Arab Emirates (refine) → Switzerland → Hong Kong (China SAR) (refine) · Sale on HKGX or OTC, with payment and AML duties

Extract gold ore or placer sands within the licensed plot

Who

Subsoil user (gold mining company)

Needs

Subsoil-use licence (electronic); Special-registration register entry (FPP)

Form

Ore (in situ / run-of-mine) → Concentrate / black sand

• Law 'On Subsoil', art. 11

Process on site (gravity, leaching, smelting) into dore bars or placer (shlikh) gold; the metal must then go to refining

Who

Subsoil user (gold mining company)

Issues

Batch number / GIIS UIN of the dore lot

Form

Concentrate / black sand → Doré bar - unstamped

Processing technology is industry practice; the law only requires "necessary processing" before refining.

• Federal Law 41-FZ, art. 20(1)

Sign a refining agreement with a listed refiner; it must set the delivery schedule and volumes, limits of harmful substances, the inventory of each lot, commission acceptance with control sampling, timing and specifications of the output, return-waste norms, the recipients of refined metal, the owner's delivery obligations to the State Fund or regional funds, liability and dispute settlement

Who

Subsoil user (gold mining company)

Issues

Refining (tolling) agreement miner-refiner

• Government Decree 972, Procedure para 3, para 3

Record the lot in GIIS DMDK and issue an electronic accompanying document (ESD) with the lot's UIN for dispatch to the refiner

Who

Subsoil user (gold mining company)

Needs

Batch number / GIIS UIN of the dore lot; Refining (tolling) agreement miner-refiner

Issues

ESD for dispatch of dore/placer gold to the refiner

[not-read] The GIIS DMDK Rules (Decree 270) were not read in full; the ESD fields for dore were not seen.

• Government Decree 270 of 26.02.2021

Transport dore to the refinery by air, sea, inland water, rail or a specialised equipped road vehicle under armed escort

Who

Secure carrier of valuables

Needs

ESD for dispatch of dore/placer gold to the refiner

• Federal Law 41-FZ, art. 29(3)

Screen buyer and destination: Russian-origin gold exported after the sanctions dates cannot be imported into the EU, UK, US, Switzerland or Japan, and Russian bars made from 7 Mar 2022 are not LBMA Good Delivery; sales go to non-sanctioning markets

Who

Licensed exporter (mining company, refiner or bank holding a Minpromtorg export licence)

Sign the export contract and issue the commercial invoice

Who

Licensed exporter (mining company, refiner or bank holding a Minpromtorg export licence)

Issues

Export contract with foreign buyer; Commercial invoice

Apply to Minpromtorg for an export licence (one-off for a contract, or a general licence under Decree 1126 or 867); Minfin approves the application in GIIS DMDK within 10 working days (Order 10n from 1 Sep 2026), except credit organisations' applications for refined gold, silver, platinum and palladium bars since 8 May 2026

Who

Licensed exporter (mining company, refiner or bank holding a Minpromtorg export licence)

Needs

Export contract with foreign buyer; Special-registration register entry (FPP)

Issues

Minfin conclusion (permissive document) approving an export-licence application (Order 10n from 1 Sep 2026); EAEU export licence issued by Minpromtorg (one-off or general)

Licence validity and issue time from EEC Council Decision 125 Rules paras 9 and 13: a one-off licence is valid up to 1 year from its start (may be limited to the contract term); a general licence up to 1 year; the licensing authority decides within 15 working days of receiving the documents unless the Commission decision introducing the measure sets another term. [unconfirmed] Decision 125's own in-force date depends on the Protocol of 25.05.2023 (see ru.law-eec-125).

• Presidential Decree 1137, Regulation paras 4 and 22; Minfin Order 10n, paras 4, 22

File the application letter for FPP state control through GIIS DMDK with: the export licence copy (table-1 goods), the contract, the specification, the invoice, the calculation of the value of the precious metals (within 5% of world prices), special-registration record or bank licence, proof of lawful ownership, the precious-metal content document, technical documentation, the subsoil licence (mining subjects) and the document on the State Fund's refusal to buy (mining and producing subjects)

Who

Licensed exporter (mining company, refiner or bank holding a Minpromtorg export licence)

Needs

EAEU export licence issued by Minpromtorg (one-off or general); Export contract with foreign buyer; Commercial invoice; Document on the authorised bodies' refusal (non-exercise) to purchase; Passport for standard bar / certificate for measured bar of refined precious metal (FPP Order 154n; replaced by a single certificate under Order 144n from 1 Mar 2027)

Issues

Application (zayavka / letter-application) for FPP state control on export or import, filed in GIIS DMDK; Calculation of the value of precious metals in the consignment

[transcription] EEC Board Decision 30 read in the ConsultantPlus copy published by the FPP; the FPP list reproduces the same paragraph.

• EEC Board Decision 30, Annex 14, Annex 2 (Rules) para 4(b); Minfin Order 11n (valuation), Rules para 4(b)

State control of the whole consignment within 5 working days: check against documents, origin, compliance with transaction rules, valuation, optional sampling; issue the act of state control (3 copies; the first for customs) or a refusal

Who

Federal Assay Chamber

Needs

Application (zayavka / letter-application) for FPP state control on export or import, filed in GIIS DMDK

Issues

Act of state control (akt gosudarstvennogo kontrolya) of the Federal Assay Chamber

• EEC Board Decision 30, Annex 14, Annex 2 (Rules) paras 3, 8, 10; 41-FZ art. 26², Rules para 10

Lodge the export declaration at a specialised customs post, presenting the export licence and the act of state control

Who

Licensed exporter (mining company, refiner or bank holding a Minpromtorg export licence)

Needs

EAEU export licence issued by Minpromtorg (one-off or general); Act of state control (akt gosudarstvennogo kontrolya) of the Federal Assay Chamber; Commercial invoice

Issues

Export goods declaration (accepted and released by customs); Certificate of origin (general form) for non-EAEU destinations

[not-read] The customs rules on the declaration itself were not read.

• EEC Board Decision 30, Annex 14 paras 4-5; Presidential Decree 1137 para 19¹, Regulation paras 4-5

Carry the sealed consignment to the airport and hand to the airline (valuable cargo)

Who

Secure carrier of valuables

Needs

Export goods declaration (accepted and released by customs)

Issues

Packing list; Air waybill

The armed-escort rule (41-FZ art. 29(3)) covers transport to the airport; no rule on the hand-over to the airline was read.

• Federal Law 41-FZ, art. 29(3)

Pre-contract KYC on the Nigerian exporter: corporate docs, UBO, MBC/export-permit evidence, mine-of-origin declaration

Who

DMCC importer / trader

Needs

Bank-to-bank reference confirmation (not a public letter) on the Nigerian exporter

Issues

Importer's KYC/due-diligence pack on the Nigerian exporter; Evidence pack from the Nigerian exporter: export licence/permit, mine location, legal existence of the ASM operation

[conflict] For an ordinary DMCC trader the binding CDD duties are those of CR 134/2025 (Arts. 5-14); DMCC RBD-GPM binds only its Accredited Members (see ae.div-dmcc-role). [inferred] "Highest-scrutiny category" for ASM is the model's reading of Rule 1.6, not a phrase in the Rules.

• DMCC RBD-GPM Rules v2/2020; Cabinet Resolution 134/2025, DMCC Rules 1.4-1.8 (KYC; Rule 1.6 specific requirements for ASM supply), Rules 2.4-2.8 (red flags); CR 134 Art. 25(1) (records at least 5 years)

File the Dubai Customs declaration on Mirsal 2 with invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and air waybill (for a free-zone consignee the Customer Guide's 'FZ Transit In' type appears to apply, not import to local); disclose the precious metals crossing the border

Who

DMCC importer / trader

Needs

Air waybill; Certificate of origin; Origin country's export authorisation for the gold (permit, licence or clearance issued by the mining or trade authority); Commercial invoice; Packing list

Issues

Dubai Customs declaration filed online (for goods entering a free zone: "FZ Transit In"); Disclosure of precious metals crossing the UAE border (cargo included)

No UAE import permit for gold: Dubai Customs lists DMCC as restricting authority only for "Pearls, Diamonds, Rough Diamonds etc." (Customer Guide App. I). FZ Transit In (s.15.12.2): "foreign goods originated from any country may be brought into the free zones without being subject to customs duties or taxes. The owner of the goods in the Documents shall be a Free Zone Licensee"; documents MAWB/HAWB, commercial invoice, certificate of origin, packing list, delivery order. Mainland duty: the GCC exempted list's gold line is printed "71060000" (silver's heading) [summary][blocked]. Cross-border disclosure: see ae.doc-pm-disclosure-ae. [unconfirmed] Neither Dubai Customs guide names the declaration type for gold into a DMCC company or the DMCC Vault. [conflict] Supporting documents are due within 14 days (Customer Guide s.15.7) or 30 days (Service Guide v9 App. A) - see ae.div-customs-doc-deadline. KPMG (secondary): periodic "Goods Consumption within FZ" declaration under Dubai Customs Notice 17/2020.

• Dubai Customs Customer Guide v3.03; Dubai Customs Service Guide v9; Federal Decree-Law 10/2025, Customer Guide s.15.12.2 (FZ Transit In), App. J (DMCC declarations at the Customer Service Center at DMCC); FDL 10/2025 Art. 10 (cross-border disclosure)

Import VAT: registered importer accounts for VAT on its own return (reverse charge); investment-grade gold is zero-rated, doré is not

Who

DMCC importer / trader

Issues

Import VAT accounted on the importer's own VAT return (registered importer)

Investment precious metals = gold, silver or platinum of 99% purity or more, in a form tradeable in global bullion markets (ER Art. 36(2), not amended in the consolidation to CD 100/2025); their supply or import is zero-rated (Art. 45(8)). [inferred] Doré below 99% does not qualify. [unconfirmed] DMCC's absence from the Designated Zones was checked only against the 2017 list (secondary copy). [not-read] FDL 16/2025 amendments (from 1 Jan 2026) not held.

• Federal Decree-Law 8/2017 on VAT; Executive Regulation (Cabinet Decision 52/2017, as amended; consolidated to CD 100/2025), Law Art. 45(8), 48(1), 49; ER Art. 36(2), 48(1), 48(5), 50(1)

If the importer sells the doré to the refiner (rather than toll-refining it): refiner gives two written statements before supply; importer issues a tax invoice without VAT (reverse charge)

Who

DMCC importer / trader

Issues

Refiner's two written statements: VAT-registered, and buying to resell or use in production; Tax invoice without VAT for the importer-to-refiner sale

[inferred] Conditional: the model reads the reverse charge as not applying where the refiner only toll-refines metal the importer keeps title to; the sources read do not address toll refining.

• Cabinet Decision 127/2024; VAT Executive Regulation, CD 127 Art. 2(1), 2(3) (two written declarations before supply; supplier keeps them and verifies registration), 2(4) (no declarations: no reverse charge); ER Art. 59(1)(l)

Refiner performs its own CDD on the supplier; third-party audit, assurance or certification reports are supporting evidence only, and the relationship must stop if CDD cannot be completed

Who

Dubai refiner (UAEGD-accredited)

Needs

Importer's KYC/due-diligence pack on the Nigerian exporter; Evidence pack from the Nigerian exporter: export licence/permit, mine location, legal existence of the ASM operation; Air waybill

Issues

Refiner KYC and custody file: supplier identity/constitution/licence/UBOs, PEP approval, invoices, declared weight and assay, unique input/output references, transport documents, arrival and assay-final dates, payment details (kept 5 years); Red-flag assessment by location of origin and by supplier

• UAE MoE Due Diligence Regulations v1 (2022); Ministerial Decree 68/2024; EBC Rules for RBDG v1/2021, Regs s.1.3.1-1.3.7, 1.3.6 (cease if CDD cannot be done), 1.3.10 (records 5 years), 1.5 (own KYC; third-party audits only supporting evidence), 2.1-2.2; Decree Art. 1(A)-(B); EBC Rules 1.6-1.14

Weigh-in, seal-check, sample, fire-assay the doré

Who

Dubai refiner (UAEGD-accredited)

Needs

Refining agreement, Dubai refiner; Refiner KYC and custody file: supplier identity/constitution/licence/UBOs, PEP approval, invoices, declared weight and assay, unique input/output references, transport documents, arrival and assay-final dates, payment details (kept 5 years); Pre-shipment notification to refiner/buyer

Issues

Refiner outturn/assay report

Specific weighing/sampling/fire-assay methodology not published in any UAE-specific source found

Melt, refine and cast to 995.0 or 999.9 bars, marked with serial number, the refiner's hallmark/brand stamp, fineness to four significant figures and weight (year optional, otherwise on the manufacturer's certificate)

Who

Dubai refiner (UAEGD-accredited)

Needs

Refiner outturn/assay report

Issues

Manufacturer certificate accompanying UAEGD bars (states year of manufacture if not stamped); Output record: unique reference, refiner name and stamp, year for each bar

Form

Doré bar - stamped/exporter-sealed → Pre-refined 995 bar (e.g. 'Dubai 995')

[unconfirmed] Refining method (Miller chlorination) is not in the UAEGD Rules or RBDG Rules.

• EBC UAE Good Delivery Accreditation Rules v1/2021, s.7.1 (bar marking)

Refiner appoints an independent third-party auditor and submits the due-diligence report to the MoE (Decree 68/2024 Art. 1(B)); the Reviewer sends its reports to the MoE within 90 calendar days of the end of the review period (DD Regulations Annex I s.12.1). UAEGD (EBC) and DMCC Accredited Members also publish an annual report (EBC Rules / DMCC RBD-GPM Rule 5.1).

Who

Dubai refiner (UAEGD-accredited)

Issues

RBD-GPM annual disclosure; MoET responsible-sourcing audit report

The EBC and DMCC reporting duties are rules of those bodies (official-guidance) and bind their Accredited Members only. [conflict] DMCC accreditation status after 2021: see ae.div-dmcc-role.

• Ministerial Decree 68/2024; MoE Due Diligence Regulations v1; EBC Rules for RBDG v1/2021; DMCC RBD-GPM v2/2020, Decree Art. 1(B); Regulations Step 5, Annex I s.12.1; EBC Rules Rule 5.1; DMCC Rules Art. 3.1, Rule 5.1

Deposit refined bars into DMCC Vault (operated by Brink's)

Who

DMCC Vault (operated by Brink's)

Needs

Manufacturer certificate accompanying UAEGD bars (states year of manufacture if not stamped)

Issues

DMCC Vault deposit/withdrawal receipt; DMCC Tradeflow warrant (optional; used for pledging and title transfer)

DMCC: the Vault is "Owned by DMCC and operated by Brink's Global Services" and "DMCC can assist with all customs processes". [not-read] Deposit/withdrawal documents and any bonded status of the Vault are not published; the receipt document is inferred.

Obtain a Certificate of Origin from Dubai Chambers: a non-preferential certificate for UAE-origin goods (goods produced in the UAE by a licensed exporter; copy of the industrial licence and the factory's invoice) or a certificate for foreign goods re-exported

Who

DMCC importer / trader

Needs

Refiner outturn/assay report

Issues

UAE Certificate of Origin / re-export documentation (Dubai Chambers)

Unresolved: whether refining doré into bars confers UAE origin - both can sit in HS 7108.12 and no gold-specific rule was found; CR 43/2022 Art. 4 also allows "specific manufacturing operations". India's Noida SEZ SOP treats gold bars sourced from the UAE as not UAE-originating (see ae-in). Fee AED 100, two hours (Dubai Chambers service page; the Resolution sets no amount). [summary][blocked] FL 11/2019 and CR 43/2022 read through WebFetch only (downloads Cloudflare-challenged).

• Federal Law 11/2019; Cabinet Resolution 43/2022; Dubai Chambers Resolution 7/2024, FL 11/2019 Art. 4 (minimal operations do not confer origin), Art. 6 (issue of certificates; the Chamber issues certificates for re-exported foreign commodities); CR 43/2022 Art. 4 (last major operation, incl. "a change in the customs item or ... specific manufacturing operations"); DC Res. 7/2024 Art. 2 (types), Art. 3(a) (conditions), Art. 3(b) (UAE-origin certificate only for goods produced in the UAE by an exporter licensed by the Competent Entity), Art. 4 (electronic application), Art. 6 (valid six months), Art. 7 (register kept 3 years)

File Dubai Customs export/re-export declaration; VAT zero-rated on export

Who

DMCC importer / trader

Needs

UAE Certificate of Origin / re-export documentation (Dubai Chambers)

Issues

Dubai Customs export/re-export declaration

• Federal Decree-Law 8/2017 on VAT; VAT Executive Regulation; Cabinet Decision 127/2024; Dubai Customs Customer Guide v3.03, DL 8/2017 Art. 45(1) (exports zero-rated); ER Art. 30 (export within 90 days, with customs declaration and commercial evidence); CD 127/2024 Art. 2(2) (no reverse charge on zero-rated supplies); Customer Guide s.15.12.3 (FZ Transit Out; penalty 10% of value without proof of export), s.16 (proof of export by air)

Book air cargo as valuable/secure freight (specialist carrier), security clearance, sealed/inspected shipment at DXB/DWC

Who

Secure logistics provider (UAE/air legs)

Needs

Dubai Customs export/re-export declaration

Issues

Air waybill, Dubai -> Zurich/Geneva

CAR VII has nothing gold-specific; booking as valuable/secure freight with a specialist carrier is practice. [inferred] Road leg to the airport in Dubai needs a SIRA Money and Valuables Transport licence.

• GCAA CAR Part VII Ed. 05; SIRA Resolution 1/2018, CAR VII 4.6.1 (security controls on cargo), 4.6.6 (operators accept cargo only with security controls confirmed), 4.6.7 (security status accompanies cargo); SIRA Res. Art. 3(a)(6)

Onboard Dubai supplier: KYC pack, chain-of-custody statement, mine-of-origin/scrap declaration, DMCC/UAEGD audit reports

Who

Swiss refiner (melter/trade-assayer licence, LBMA Good Delivery-listed)

Needs

Air waybill

Issues

Refiner file on the Dubai supplier: identity, commercial-register extract, proof of lawful acquisition (export permit/declaration, mining licence where applicable), SECO embargo check, origin clarification (kept for the period the EMKV sets: zehn Jahren); KYC questionnaire for mined material, naming each ASM supplier in the chain (team/cooperative, aggregators, local exporter); Independent assurance report on the Dubai refiner's responsible sourcing practices, as an Intermediate Refiner (RGG v9 s.2.3 enhanced due diligence for high-risk recycled gold); Site visit at the mine of origin before transacting (or within 6 months) - enhanced due diligence

[inferred] Asking for DMCC/UAEGD audit reports and a chain-of-custody statement is the model's application to a Dubai supplier; the LBMA Responsible Gold Guidance and the BAZG melter due-diligence directive do not name them. The EMKV duties are read in the official fedlex consolidation held on the server. In the EMKV record on the server these articles are parsed into the section labelled Anhang (section id in the refs), not into their own sections; the quotes are from that section.

• PMCO/EMKV; LBMA Responsible Gold Guidance; BAZG melter due-diligence directive (sections in refs), EMKV (SR 941.311, Stand 1 Jan 2024) Art. 168a Abs. 1 (parsed into section sch-2)

  “Der Inhaber einer Schmelzbewilligung darf Schmelzgut nur von Per-”

• PMCO/EMKV; LBMA Responsible Gold Guidance; BAZG melter due-diligence directive (sections in refs), EMKV (SR 941.311, Stand 1 Jan 2024) Art. 168a Abs. 1 (lawful acquisition) (parsed into section sch-2)

  “die sich über deren rechtmässigen Erwerb aus- weisen können.”

• PMCO/EMKV; LBMA Responsible Gold Guidance; BAZG melter due-diligence directive (sections in refs), EMKV (SR 941.311, Stand 1 Jan 2024) Art. 168a Abs. 2 (identity) (parsed into section sch-2)

  “Es muss die Identität des Kunden anhand eines beweiskräftigen Do- kumentes wie Pass oder Identitätskarte überprüfen.”

• PMCO/EMKV; LBMA Responsible Gold Guidance; BAZG melter due-diligence directive (sections in refs), EMKV (SR 941.311, Stand 1 Jan 2024) Art. 168a Abs. 3 (origin clarification) (parsed into section sch-2)

  “Bestehen über die Herkunft der Ware Zweifel oder stammen die An- gebote von Unbekannten, so ist der Inhaber der Schmelzbewilligung verpflichtet, die Herkunft des Schmelzgutes besonders sorgfältig abzu- klären.”

• PMCO/EMKV; LBMA Responsible Gold Guidance; BAZG melter due-diligence directive (sections in refs), EMKV (SR 941.311, Stand 1 Jan 2024) Art. 168b Abs. 3 (retention) (parsed into section sch-2)

  “Schmelzprodukten müssen während zehn Jahren aufbewahrt werden.”

• PMCO/EMKV; LBMA Responsible Gold Guidance; BAZG melter due-diligence directive (sections in refs), EMKG Art. 31a Abs. 1

  “Wer gewerbsmässig Schmelzgut im Sinne von Artikel 1 Absatz 3”

• PMCO/EMKV; LBMA Responsible Gold Guidance; BAZG melter due-diligence directive (sections in refs), EMKG Art. 31a Abs. 6

  “Die Absätze 1-5 gelten nicht für Inhaber einer Schmelzbewilligung nach Artikel 24.”

• PMCO/EMKV; LBMA Responsible Gold Guidance; BAZG melter due-diligence directive (sections in refs), BAZG Richtlinie R-247 (1 Jan 2023) annex matrix Teil 1 (KYC)

  “Identifikation des Kunden gemäss Art. 168a Abs. 2 EMKV für natürliche Personen, für juristische Personen mittels Han-”

• PMCO/EMKV; LBMA Responsible Gold Guidance; BAZG melter due-diligence directive (sections in refs), BAZG Richtlinie R-247 (1 Jan 2023) Ziff. 3.3.2

  “Bestehen Zweifel über die Herkunft des Materials oder in Bezug auf die Integrität des Kunden sind Bewilligungsinhaber verpflichtet, den Sachverhalt besonders sorgfältig abzuklären”

• PMCO/EMKV; LBMA Responsible Gold Guidance; BAZG melter due-diligence directive (sections in refs), RGG v9 Step 2.1 (origin of mined gold)

  “Mined Gold: The location of the mine (LSM and ASM).”

• PMCO/EMKV; LBMA Responsible Gold Guidance; BAZG melter due-diligence directive (sections in refs), RGG v9 Step 2.2 (transit red flag)

  “Is claimed to originate from a country through which gold from CAHRAs is known, or reasonably suspected, to transit”

• PMCO/EMKV; LBMA Responsible Gold Guidance; BAZG melter due-diligence directive (sections in refs), RGG v9 Step 1.2 (records)

  “Records are required to be maintained for at least five years, or the minimum timeframe stipulated by local regulatory requirements”

• PMCO/EMKV; LBMA Responsible Gold Guidance; BAZG melter due-diligence directive (sections in refs), BAZG Schmelzen und Prüfen (Dec 2023) Ziff. 4.1.6 (restates Art. 168b Abs. 3)

  “Die Dokumente über den Geschäftsverkehr mit Schmelzgut und Schmelzprodukten müssen während zehn Jahren aufbewahrt werden.”

File the Swiss electronic customs import declaration (formal declaration; simplified or oral declarations excluded for melt material imported for sale), tariff heading 7108.1200 (statistical key 911 for mining gold), with actual origin if known; import VAT-exempt for investment gold (cast bars of at least 995 thousandths fineness bearing the fineness and the stamp of a recognised assayer-melter) and for gold in raw form or semi-finished for refining; unmarked doré may only be imported by a trade assayer (BAZG practice)

Who

Swiss refiner (melter/trade-assayer licence, LBMA Good Delivery-listed)

Needs

Air waybill

Issues

Electronic customs import declaration (commercial import; simplified and oral declarations excluded for melt material)

The Federal Council report (citing the customs administration) says actual origin must be declared if known, but for large imports, e.g. from the United Kingdom or the UAE, the dispatch country is sometimes entered; [inferred] Dubai-refined Nigerian gold can therefore appear as UAE origin. [unconfirmed] That no certificate of origin is required is not stated in the sources read. No written precious-metals control record found for a passed border check. The rule that unmarked doré may only be imported by a trade assayer is BAZG practice (BAZG letter on unmarked melt products; BAZG directive on applying the EMKG); it is not in the EMKG import article. The EMKV (precious metals control ordinance) is not held on the server, so its provisions on recognised fineness marks and banking precious metals are not relied on here. Corrected earlier: the declaration was described as "Passar"; the BAZG melt-material sheet names e-dec web. [time-limited] When the BAZG-VG enters into force (date not set), the EMKG import-check paragraphs are repealed and replaced by a new BAZG control article (BAZG-VG annex amending the EMKG).

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), MWSTG (SR 641.20, Stand 1 Jan 2025) Art. 23 Abs. 2 Ziff. 12: gold supplies exempt

  “die Umsätze, die mit Gold und Legierungen von Gold der folgenden Form erzielt werden:”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), Art. 23 Abs. 2 Ziff. 12 Bst. b: investment gold, cast bars

  “Gold zu Anlagezwecken mit einem Mindestfeingehalt von 995 Tausendsteln, in Form von:”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), Art. 23 Abs. 2 Ziff. 12 Bst. b, first indent

  “gegossenen Barren, versehen mit der Angabe des Feingehalts und dem Stempelzeichen eines anerkannten Prüfer-Schmelzers oder”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), Art. 23 Abs. 2 Ziff. 12 Bst. d: raw or semi-finished gold for refining

  “Gold in Rohform oder in Form von Halbzeug, das zur Raffination oder Rückgewinnung bestimmt ist”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), MWSTG Art. 53 Abs. 1 Bst. m: import of gold exempt

  “Gold und Legierungen von Gold nach Artikel 23 Absatz 2 Ziffer 12.”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), AS 2024 438 (amendment of 16 June 2023, in force 1 Jan 2025): inserts Art. 53 Abs. 1 Bst. m

  “Gold und Legierungen von Gold nach Artikel 23 Absatz 2 Ziffer 12.”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), MWSTV Art. 44 (former gold provision) repealed

  “Aufgehoben durch Ziff. I der V vom 21. Aug. 2024, mit Wirkung seit 1. Jan. 2025”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), EMKG (SR 941.31) Art. 20 Abs. 3: import checks

  “Die diesem Gesetz unterstellten Waren können bei der Einfuhr einer umfassenden oder stichprobenweisen Kontrolle unterworfen werden.”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), BAZG statistics page: tariff heading 7108.1200

  “Data relating to gold in raw form (e.g. bars) are recorded under customs tariff heading 7108.1200”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), BAZG statistics page: statistical key 911 (from 1 Jan 2021)

  “mining gold *(key: 911)*”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), Federal Council report 14 Nov 2018, s.3.7

  “dass der tatsächliche Ursprung der Waren gemeldet werden muss, sofern er bekannt ist”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), Federal Council report s.3.7

  “Bei umfangreichen Einfuhren, zum Beispiel aus Grossbritannien oder den Vereinigten Arabischen Emiraten, wird in der Zollerklärung gelegentlich das Versendungsland angegeben.”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), BAZG R-247 (1 Jan 2023) s.3.4.2: unmarked melt products only imported by trade assayers

  “Daher sind ausschliesslich Handelsprüfer berechtigt, nicht gekennzeichnete”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), R-247 s.3.4.2 (doré bars as example)

  “(bspw. Doré-Barren aus dem Bergbau)”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), BAZG Merkblatt "Annahme von Schmelzgut aus dem Ausland" (Jan 2024): simplified declarations excluded

  “Vereinfachte Zollanmeldeverfahren wie Quickzoll oder gar eine mündliche Zollanmeldung sind daher grundsätzlich ausgeschlossen.”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), Merkblatt: e-dec web

  “dies selbst mittels e-dec web vornehmen”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), Merkblatt: prior customs procedure

  “Annahme von Schmelzgut aus dem Ausland sichergestellt wird, dass dieses vorgängig”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), Merkblatt: fine per case (under the EMKG)

  “mit bis zu CHF 2 000 pro Fall gebüsst werden”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), Merkblatt: licence withdrawal

  “In schweren Fällen kann die entsprechende Bewilligung”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), BAZG letter of 4 Dec 2019 on import of unmarked melt products (only footnotes are sectioned; cited law-only)

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), BAZG-VG of 20 June 2025, Anhang 2 Ziff. 53 (EMKG Art. 20 Abs. 3-5 repealed, new Art. 22a); annex not sectioned, cited law-only

Optionally store under customs control in a free port (e.g. Geneva La Praille / Aéroport, Embrach - Embraport, Zürich-Flughafen - Cargologic): stored goods are not subject to import customs duties or trade-policy measures and may be stored indefinitely

Who

Bonded warehouse / freeport operator (Geneva/Embrach)

Issues

Electronic customs declaration on entry of sensitive goods into the free port (content: the inventory-record particulars listed in the Customs Ordinance, letters a to f, plus the depositor's name and address); Electronic inventory record of sensitive goods: previous customs document, entry date, owner, origin country, description, value, marks, gross/net mass, origin proof, location, exit date, etc. (17 fields)

The BAZG free-port list held is the old list in the library (its record dates it to the start of the year it was issued; no newer list found); operators may have changed. [time-limited] The BAZG-VG (adopted, not yet in force) treats free ports as a kind of customs warehouse and will replace these articles when in force. [inferred] Suspension of import VAT is read from the BAZG free-port directive ("auf das Erheben der Abgaben ... verzichtet"); the ZG names only import customs duties and trade-policy measures. Supplies of goods stored in a free port are VAT-exempt under the MWSTG (read). The ZG and ZV are now read in their official fedlex consolidations held on the server.

• Swiss Customs Act (ZG); Customs Ordinance (ZV) (articles in refs), ZG (SR 631.0, Stand 1 Sep 2023) Art. 62 Abs. 1

  “Zollfreilager sind Teile des Zollgebiets oder in diesem gelegene Räumlichkeiten:”

• Swiss Customs Act (ZG); Customs Ordinance (ZV) (articles in refs), ZG Art. 62 Abs. 3

  “Die eingelagerten Waren unterliegen weder den Einfuhrzollabgaben noch handels- politischen Massnahmen.”

• Swiss Customs Act (ZG); Customs Ordinance (ZV) (articles in refs), ZG Art. 64 Abs. 1

  “Wer ein Zollfreilager betreibt, braucht eine Bewilligung des BAZG.”

• Swiss Customs Act (ZG); Customs Ordinance (ZV) (articles in refs), ZG Art. 65 Abs. 1

  “Waren, die in einem Zollfreilager gelagert werden sollen, sind der zuständigen Zoll- stelle zur Einlagerung anzumelden und in das Zollfreilager zu verbringen.”

• Swiss Customs Act (ZG); Customs Ordinance (ZV) (articles in refs), ZG Art. 65 Abs. 2

  “In Zollfreilagern dürfen Waren beliebig lange gelagert werden.”

• Swiss Customs Act (ZG); Customs Ordinance (ZV) (articles in refs), ZG Art. 66 Abs. 1

  “Die Lagerhalterin oder der Lagerhalter muss über alle eingelagerten sensiblen Wa- ren Bestandesaufzeichnungen führen.”

• Swiss Customs Act (ZG); Customs Ordinance (ZV) (articles in refs), ZV (SR 631.01, Stand 1 Oct 2024) Art. 178a Abs. 1

  “Die anmeldepflichtige Person muss sensible Waren bei der Einlagerung ins Zollfrei- lager elektronisch anmelden.”

• Swiss Customs Act (ZG); Customs Ordinance (ZV) (articles in refs), ZV Art. 182 Abs. 2

  “Sie oder er muss zudem für sensible Waren eine Bestandesaufzeichnung führen.”

• Swiss Customs Act (ZG); Customs Ordinance (ZV) (articles in refs), ZV Art. 184 Abs. 2

  “Sie muss elektronisch geführt werden.”

• Swiss Customs Act (ZG); Customs Ordinance (ZV) (articles in refs), ZV Anhang 2 Ziff. 5 (sensitive goods; the section id carries footnote 193 glued to the label)

  “Perlen, Diamanten, Edelsteine, Schmucksteine, Edelmetalle und Edel- metallplattierungen sowie Waren daraus (ex Zolltarifkapitel 71)”

• Swiss Customs Act (ZG); Customs Ordinance (ZV) (articles in refs), BAZG Richtlinie R-10-50 Ziff. 1.1 (levies not raised)

  “Dabei wird auf das Erheben der Abgaben, auf deren Sicherstellung und auf die Anwendung handelspolitischer Massnahmen”

• Swiss Customs Act (ZG); Customs Ordinance (ZV) (articles in refs), MWSTG Art. 23 Abs. 2 Ziff. 3bis

  “die Lieferung von Gegenständen, die wegen Einlagerung in einem Zollfreilager (Art. 62-66 ZG) nachweislich im Inland unter Zollüberwachung standen und diesen Zollstatus nicht rückwirkend verloren haben”

• Swiss Customs Act (ZG); Customs Ordinance (ZV) (articles in refs), Embrach

  “Zürcher Freilager AG, GVZ Embraport”

• Swiss Customs Act (ZG); Customs Ordinance (ZV) (articles in refs), Genève La Praille and Genève Aéroport

  “Ports Francs et Entrepôts de Genève SA”

• Swiss Customs Act (ZG); Customs Ordinance (ZV) (articles in refs), BAZG-VG (20 June 2025, not in force) Art. 64

  “Zolllager sind vom BAZG zugelassene Orte im Zollgebiet”

• Swiss Customs Act (ZG); Customs Ordinance (ZV) (articles in refs), BAZG-VG Art. 65 Abs. 2

  “Als Zolllager können bewilligt werden:”

Screen the bars, buyer and destination against Swiss sanctions before release: no purchase, import, transit or related services (including brokerage and financing) for gold of Russian origin exported after 4 Aug 2022 or gold processed from it in third countries

Who

Swiss refiner (melter/trade-assayer licence, LBMA Good Delivery-listed)

[transcription] Art. 14d paras 1-4 read in an unofficial third-party English translation (as at 22 Mar 2024, held in laws/); Annex 26 covers 7108, 7112 91 and ex 7118 90 gold coins; Annex 27 ex 7113 and ex 7114. [unconfirmed] The official consolidation is now Stand 21 Sep 2026 and was not read (the fetch tool truncates before Art. 14d); changes after March 2024 are not ruled out. The ordinance contains no explicit ban on selling gold to Russia; the export-side effect is through the services ban.

• Ordinance of 4 March 2022 on measures in connection with the situation in Ukraine (SR 946.231.176.72), Art. 14d

Release the bars from the refinery vault or free port against the owner's instruction and prepare the weight list (bar list), commercial invoice and packing list for the shipment

Who

Swiss refiner (melter/trade-assayer licence, LBMA Good Delivery-listed)

Issues

Outbound weight list / bar list; Commercial invoice to the foreign buyer; Packing list

The weight list is sourced to LBMA Annex C; commercial invoice and packing list are standard export practice, not read in a Swiss source.

• LBMA Good Delivery Rules, Annex C (weight lists); Customs Act Arts. 62-66 (free ports)

Lodge the electronic export declaration in Passar (HS 7108; e-dec Export was usable only to end-2025); the declarant must make it binding and physically export the goods within 120 days of its acceptance in the IT system

Who

Swiss refiner (melter/trade-assayer licence, LBMA Good Delivery-listed)

Issues

Passar export declaration (HS 7108)

R-10-10 (valid 1 Jan 2026) cites Art. 25-29 ZG and Art. 79-83 ZV for the declaration duty, says declarations are electronic in principle, and sets the 120-day limit from acceptance in the IT system. R-10-10 held and read in full on 2026-09-28; the Customs Act and Ordinance texts themselves were not read. R-10-10 has no gold-specific rule.

• Customs Act (ZG, SR 631.0); BAZG R-10-10, ZG Arts. 25-29 (as cited in R-10-10)

Receive the export assessment notice (Veranlagungsverfuegung Ausfuhr), the evidence that the goods were properly cleared for export

Who

Swiss refiner (melter/trade-assayer licence, LBMA Good Delivery-listed)

Issues

Veranlagungsverfuegung Ausfuhr

R-10-10 cites Art. 38 and 69 ZG and Art. 92 ZV for the export assessment notice and says it is evidence of proper assessment and of export for VAT. R-10-10 held and read in full on 2026-09-28.

• Customs Act (ZG); BAZG R-10-10, ZG Arts. 38 and 69; ZV Art. 92 (as cited in R-10-10)

Treat the sale as a VAT-exempt export (supply of goods directly transported abroad) and keep the export assessment notice as evidence

Who

Swiss refiner (melter/trade-assayer licence, LBMA Good Delivery-listed)

Needs

Veranlagungsverfuegung Ausfuhr

Art. 23(2) no. 1 read in the held MWSTG (Stand 1 Jan 2025, German wording current). Art. 23(3): direct export includes export into an open customs warehouse or a free port. Investment gold of at least 995 fineness is separately exempt with credit under Art. 23(2) no. 12 (see ch.tax-import-vat).

• Federal VAT Act (MWSTG, SR 641.20), Art. 23(2) no. 1

Hand the sealed consignment to a secure valuables carrier and fly it out (Zurich or Geneva) under an air waybill

Who

Swiss refiner (melter/trade-assayer licence, LBMA Good Delivery-listed)

Issues

Air waybill (outbound)

Carrier practice. Cantonal licensing: in the Canton of Zurich "Sicherheitstransporte von Personen, Gütern und Wertsachen" require a licence under the Polizeigesetz, 9. Abschnitt (cantonal page, read by WebFetch 2026-09-28; PolG text not read). Geneva and other cantons not checked. No Swiss source read describes the outbound air leg for gold.

Onboard the supplier: KYC and source-of-supply review. Hong Kong law makes CDD mandatory for a Category B registrant only for specified cash transactions (AMLO s.5A(5A)); for bank-paid purchases the pack is the importer's own risk choice, with LBMA/OECD guidance applying where the buyer or refiner is bound by it

Who

Registered bullion dealer / trader (DPMS registrant)

Needs

DPMS Category A registration certificate; Commercial invoice

Issues

Supplier KYC pack held by the Hong Kong importer; Customer due diligence file (Category B, specified cash transaction); Supplier's commercial invoice

[inferred] No Hong Kong rule found that requires origin documents for imported gold; the KYC pack is commercial practice outside cash transactions. The legal scope of CDD is read in the Ordinance.

• AMLO s. 5A and Sch. 2 (only for specified cash transactions), s. 5A(5A)-(5B)

  “An AML/CTF requirement that applies to a DNFBP who is a Category B PMS registrant only applies when, by way of business, the registrant carries out, in Hong Kong with a customer, a specified cash transaction that is not an excluded transaction”

Fly the consignment into HKIA and deliver it to the importer's vault. If it is transhipment cargo (consigned on a through bill of lading or through air waybill to a place outside Hong Kong) or transit cargo, no Hong Kong declaration is required and the gold never enters the Hong Kong market

Who

Secure logistics carrier / forwarder

Needs

Supplier's commercial invoice; Air waybill; Export customs declaration accepted by the dispatching country's customs

Issues

Inbound air waybill

• Import and Export (Registration) Regulations (Cap. 60E), reg. 3(a)-(b); Cap. 60 s. 2 (transhipment cargo, article in transit)

Receive the bars, weigh them and check serials against the bar list; credit the importer's allocated account

Who

Precious-metals vault operator

Needs

Inbound air waybill

Issues

Weight and quality verification record; Bar list (serials, weights, fineness); Allocated account weight list

[inferred] Vault intake practice is not documented in an official source; the clearing press release confirms designated vaults record deposits.

Lodge the import declaration within 14 days after the day of importation using the specified system (Trade Single Window, or during the transition a government-appointed service provider). Gold bars of fineness 995.0 or above (HKHS 7108 1210, 7108 2010) go on Form 1B with no declaration charge; other gold pays the charge. No customs duty or VAT; gold is not an exempted article

Who

Registered bullion dealer / trader (DPMS registrant)

Needs

Inbound air waybill; Supplier's commercial invoice

Issues

Hong Kong import declaration (Cap. 60E, lodged electronically within 14 days)

• Import and Export (Registration) Regulations (Cap. 60E), regs 3, 4(1)-(2), 7, 8(1), (1AA), (4), 18

If the gold is paid for with physical currency or BNIs above HK$120,000 carried across the boundary, declare the cash (not the gold) to C&ED: advance CDS declaration for cargo, red channel for arriving travellers

Who

Registered bullion dealer / trader (DPMS registrant)

Issues

CBNI advance electronic declaration (CDS) for cash moved as cargo

• Cap. 629, ss. 2, 4, 9, 11; Sch. 4

Melt and cast imported bars or doré into HKGX good-delivery bars (99 gold 5-tael, 999.9 gold kilo or 5-tael) and stamp them with the authorised minter's mark

Who

HKGX authorised Good Delivery bar minter (casting member)

Needs

Allocated account weight list

Issues

HKGX good-delivery bar (authorised minter's mark); Bar list (serials, weights, fineness)

Form

LBMA Good Delivery 400oz bar → 999.9 kilobar

[blocked] Bar specifications and input assay rules are in the HKGX rules, which could not be obtained (403 bot challenge, 28 Sep 2026).

• HKGX rules

Ship gold to a qualified Shenzhen refinery under processing trade and receive the refined bars back; Mainland processing-trade gold is exempt from the PBOC permit and stays under customs supervision

Who

Registered bullion dealer / trader (DPMS registrant)

Issues

Hong Kong export / re-export declaration (Cap. 60E, lodged within 14 days); Hong Kong import declaration (Cap. 60E, lodged electronically within 14 days)

Form

Doré bar - stamped/exporter-sealed → 999.9 kilobar

[unconfirmed] The HK-Shenzhen MOU is described only in the LegCo reply ("The FSTB is working with the relevant Mainland authorities to finalise the implementation details"); how consignments are documented across the boundary was not found.

• PBOC/GACC gold import-export measures, Art. 20(1) (processing trade exempt from permit); Art. 4(2) (diversion to domestic sale needs one)

Agree price and terms: loco-London or loco-Hong Kong OTC off the LBMA Gold Price or dealer quotes (the HAU ticker, launched on Bloomberg on 7 July 2026, gives indicative loco-HK bid/offer); or trade on HKGX by open outcry or electronically

Who

Registered bullion dealer / trader (DPMS registrant)

Issues

Sale and Purchase Agreement (price clause); Price reference (LBMA Gold Price, or HAU ticker quotes for loco Hong Kong); HKGX trade record / transaction code

Before any specified cash transaction (cash of HK$120,000 or more, single or linked) with a customer, a Category B registrant identifies and verifies the customer and beneficial owner, verifies anyone acting for the customer, applies PEP and high-risk measures and keeps records at least 5 years. Only a Category B registrant may carry out such a transaction; cash paid only between two Category B registrants is excluded from CDD

Who

Registered bullion dealer / trader (DPMS registrant)

Needs

DPMS Category B registration certificate

Issues

Customer due diligence file (Category B, specified cash transaction)

• AMLO s. 5A and Sch. 2; C&ED Guideline for Category B registrants, s. 5A(5A)-(5B); s. 53ZUE(2); Sch. 2 ss. 2, 3(1)(b), 10, 15, 20

  “for a period of at least 5 years beginning on the date on which the transaction is completed”

A visiting non-Hong Kong dealer that completes a cash transaction of HK$120,000 or more files a cash transaction report (Form CED418) with C&ED within one day or before leaving, whichever is earlier

Who

Non-Hong Kong dealer (visiting)

Issues

Cash transaction report by a non-Hong Kong dealer (Form CED418)

• AMLO (Cap. 615) Part 5C, s. 53ZVK; Sch. 3J

Buyer pays by bank transfer (or ledger transfer through central clearing); seller issues the final invoice; title passes by vault transfer or clearing-ledger entry

Who

Authorised institution (bank) dealing in bullion

Needs

Sale and Purchase Agreement (price clause)

Issues

SWIFT MT103 payment confirmation (bank-to-bank, authenticated); Final invoice (against outturn assay); Settlement confirmation / custody account entry; Central clearing ledger entry (unallocated gold balance)

[inferred] Settlement mechanics for bilateral OTC outside central clearing are market practice.

Report any knowledge or suspicion that property is crime proceeds to JFIU through STREAMS 2 (applies to everyone, not only registrants); do not tip off

Who

Registered bullion dealer / trader (DPMS registrant)

Issues

Suspicious transaction report to JFIU (STREAMS 2)

• OSCO (Cap. 455), DTROP (Cap. 405), UNATMO (Cap. 575), Cap. 455 s. 25A(1), (5), (7); Cap. 405 s. 25A(1); Cap. 575 s. 12(1), (5)

  “Where a person knows or suspects that any property— (a) in whole or in part directly or indirectly represents any person’s proceeds of; (b) was used in connection with; or (c) is intended to be used in connection with, an indictable offence, he shall as soon as it is reasonable for him to do so disclose that knowledge or suspicion … to an authorized officer”

Receive payment through an authorised bank; the statutory repatriation duty (173-FZ art. 19(1)(1)) applies to rouble-priced contracts but not, under art. 19(8), to FX-priced gold contracts; foreign currency credited under the contract is subject to mandatory sale in the share set by the Government Commission (Decree 79 para 2)

Who

Licensed exporter (mining company, refiner or bank holding a Minpromtorg export licence)

Issues

Receipt of export proceeds

[inferred] Exemption of FX-priced gold contracts read from the absence of 7108 in the art. 19(8) list. [unconfirmed] The current mandatory-sale share is not in a legal act found. Western bank channels are largely closed by sanctions (OFAC FAQ 1029).

• Federal Law 173-FZ art. 19; Presidential Decrees 79 and 430, art. 19