When investing in precious metals, terminology such as "LBMA-accredited" and "Dubai Good Delivery" is frequently used. Understanding what these accreditations represent ensures investors purchase authentic, internationally accepted physical assets.
1. What is the LBMA Good Delivery Standard?
The London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) is the international trade association representing the global wholesale market for gold and silver. The LBMA maintains the strict "Good Delivery List" of accredited refineries worldwide.
- Good Delivery Specifications: Large institutional wholesale bars (approximately 400 oz for gold, 1,000 oz for silver) with minimum fineness of 995.0 for gold and 999.0 for silver.
- Retail Accreditation: When retail bars (such as 1 Kilo, 100g, or 10g) are produced by an LBMA-accredited refinery (e.g. Emirates Gold, Valcambi Suisse, PAMP Suisse), they inherit the refinery’s strict quality and assay pedigree.
2. Dubai Good Delivery (DGD) Standard
Established by the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), the Dubai Good Delivery standard is the benchmark for gold and silver refineries operating within the UAE. It enforces strict responsible sourcing, anti-money laundering compliance, and technical purity standards.
3. London Platinum and Palladium Market (LPPM)
For platinum and palladium investment bars, accreditation standards are established by the LPPM (London Platinum and Palladium Market), requiring 999.5 minimum purity for investment grade platinum ingots.