1. It is not illegal to recover and refine gold normally, and it is not illegal to use industrial waste, including chemicals, to pollute the environment wantonly during refining;
2. If it involves import and export, it may be illegal.
What are the penalties for alchemy?
1. Without permission, engaging in franchise or monopoly commodities or other commodities whose operation is restricted by laws and administrative regulations;
2. Buying and selling import and export licenses, import and export certificates of origin and other business licenses or approval documents stipulated by laws and administrative regulations;
3, without the approval of the relevant competent departments of the state, illegally engaged in securities, futures, insurance business, or illegally engaged in fund payment and settlement business;
4. Other illegal business operations that seriously disrupt the market order.
Legal basis: Article 19 of the Regulations on the Administration of Gold and Silver in People's Republic of China (PRC).
Units applying for dealing in (including processing and selling) gold and silver products, chemical products containing gold and silver, and recovering gold and silver from waste residue, waste liquid and waste containing gold and silver must be examined and approved by the People's Bank of China and relevant competent authorities in accordance with relevant state regulations and examination and approval procedures, and registered with the administrative department for industry and commerce before starting business.
Article 20
Business units must operate in accordance with the approved business scope of gold and silver, and may not change the business scope without authorization, and may not deduct, misappropriate or purchase gold and silver in the course of business.
Article 21
The casting and distribution of gold and silver commemorative coins shall be handled by the People's Bank of China, and no other unit may cast, copy and distribute them.
The export of gold and silver medals (plates) shall be handled by the People's Bank of China and the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade of the People's Republic of China respectively.
Article 22
Entrusting or consignment shops shall not purchase or consign gold and silver products or gold and silver equipment. Jewelry stores can buy jewelry inlaid with gold and silver for export, but they are not allowed to buy or sell gold and silver products and equipment. Gold and silver products are purchased by the People's Bank of China for export.
Article 23
Individual silversmiths in frontier minority areas and coastal areas where the relatives of overseas Chinese are concentrated may, with the approval of the People's Bank of China at or above the county level and the administrative department for industry and commerce, engage in the business of processing and repairing gold and silver products on behalf of customers, but may not buy or sell gold and silver products.
Article 24
The State allows individuals to mail gold and silver ornaments, and the specific administrative measures shall be formulated by the People's Bank of China jointly with the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the People's Republic of China.