Bureau of Indian Standards- Hallmarking// HALLMARKING- A PURITY ASSURANCE MEASURE FROM ONE HAND TO ANOTHER: SAINI

By 1 2 1 News Reporter

Chandigarh 01^st October: --- Stressing that Hallmarking is a purity assurance measure from one hand to another, A.K. Saini, Deputy Director General (North), Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Chandigarh called upon the jewellers to come forward and join the hallmarking schemes for gold and silver jewellery.

A.K. Saini, said that Hallmarking scheme of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for Gold Jewellery has been operative since April 2000 to protect consumer against victimization due to irregular gold quality and develop export competitiveness. A.K. Saini informed that to make the Hallmarking scheme a success, BIS organizes Capacity Development Programmes for various stakeholders and jewellers being one of the key stakeholders in the scheme, BIS keeps organizing such awareness programmes.  He urged the jewellers to take maximum benefit of BIS Hallmarking scheme in order to create their credibility and provide right purity as declared for customer satisfaction.  As on 30 Sep 2013, there are around 11000 operative licenses for gold jewellery and 225 BIS recognized Assaying & Hallmarking Centers in India, he informed.

Taking note that the gems and jewellery sector in India is highly export-oriented, labour-intensive and a major contributor to the foreign exchange earnings; therefore, the Indian government has already declared the sector as a thrust area for export promotion, Dalip Sharma, Regional Director, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry said, that it becomes all the more a responsibility of the jewellers to match the quality and standards both at the international level and at the retail consumer level as well.

Dr. Kanchan Anand, Head, Marks Department-3, BIS, Chandigarh while outlining the programme objectives, informed that BIS is organizing lot of awareness programmes in the region for the promotion of hallmarking schemes.  She informed that there are around 700 operative licences and 13 Hallmarking centers under the Northern Regional Office of BIS. She further added that Hallmarking is the accurate determination of purity of gold providing third party assurance and satisfaction to the consumers that the declared purity of gold has been purchased.

H.S. Pasricha, Scientist-E, BIS Chandigarh explained in detail the scheme of Hallmarking of Gold jewellery.  He informed the BIS has rationalized the fee structure for jewellers and also simplified the procedure for grant of licence.  Pasricha informed that in order to promote gold hallmarking among consumers and to bring more jewellers under assaying ambit, Govt. of India is giving one time financial incentive of 30% of the cost of machinery and equipments for setting up of Hallmarking and Assaying Centers.