NORTH West MEP Sir Roy Atkins today welcomed a European Union climb down from its threat to end the 700-year-old tradition of hallmarking.

Proposed changes to EU laws would have ended compulsory hallmarking of jewellery. But those plans to change the process of hallmarking in the UK have been put on hold following pressure from MEPs.

Hallmarking indicates that an item has been independently tested and guarantees that an article conforms to the legal standards of precious metal content. The mark shows where the item was made, the purity of the metal and where it was tested.

Some EU states wanted to stop hallmarking to ensure that their nation's jewellery, which does not have the mark, could be sold without having to compete with countries who had the official standard marking.

Sir Robert said: "Compulsory hallmarking is the key to less fraud, greater consumer protection and better marketing. The proposal to end it would only have been good news for those out to exploit the consumer.

"While I welcome the decision to shelve these new laws, there is still work to be done to ensure that the proposal is completely withdrawn from the negotiating table."