Hallmarking of Gold

Context:

Mandatory Hallmarking of Gold Jewellery is going to come into force from tomorrow, 16th June, 2021.

The BIS hallmark is a hallmarking system for gold as well as silver jewellery sold in India certifying the purity of the metal.
It certifies that the piece of jewellery conforms to a set of standards laid by the Bureau of Indian Standards, the national standards organization of India.

If you see the BIS hallmark on the gold jewellery/gold coin, it means it conforms to a set of standards laid by the BIS. Hallmarking gives consumers assurance regarding the purity of the gold they bought.

That is, if you are buying hallmarked 18K gold jewellery, it will actually mean that 18/24 parts are gold and the rest is alloy.
The BIS system of hallmarking of gold jewellery began in April 2000.
BIS hallmark for gold jewelry consists of several components:
- The BIS logo
- Purity of Gold either one of this 22K916 Corresponding to 22 Carat, 18K750 Corresponding to 18 Carat and 14K585 Corresponding to 14 Carat.
- Logo of the assaying center.
- Logo/code of the jeweler.
Purity in carat and fineness (corresponding to given caratage KT)
- 22K916 (91.6% Purity)
- 18K750 (75% Purity)
- 14K585 (58.5% Purity)

New decision taken for Hallmarking:

Hallmarking will be initially be starting from.256 districts of the country which have Assaying marking centres.

Jewellers with annual turnover upto Rs. 40 lac will be exempted from mandatory Hall Marking.

Export and re-import of jewelry as per Trade Policy of Government of India – Jewellery for international exhibitions, jewellery for government approved B2B domestic exhibitions will be exempted from mandatory Hall Marking.

Watches, fountain pens and special types of jewellery viz. Kundan, Polki and Jadau will be exempted from Hall Marking.

Jewellers can continue to buy back old gold jewellery without hallmark from consumer.

In order to give adequate time to the manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers of Gold Jewellery, there would be No penalties till August end.

Old jewellery can be got hallmarked as it is, if feasible by the jeweller or after melting and making new jewellery.

The mandatory hallmarking will protect the public against lower caratage and ensure consumers do not get cheated while buying gold ornaments.
It will also help to get the purity as marked on the ornaments.
It will bring in transparency and assure the consumers of quality.
The new system will weed out anomalies and corruption in the system of manufacturing of jewellery.

Bureau of Indian standards (BIS) established under the BIS Act 2016.
BIS is the National Standard Body of India for the harmonious development of the activities of standardization, marking and quality certification of goods and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
BIS has been providing traceability and tangibility benefits to the national economy in a number of ways
- providing safe reliable quality goods;
- minimizing health hazards to consumers;
- promoting exports and imports substitute;
- control over proliferation of varieties etc. through standardization, certification and testing.
BIS has its Headquarters at New Delhi

Source: PIB