35 jewellers fail to comply with hallmarking standards

 

 

 

ABOUT 35 city jewellers have failed to comply with the hallmarking purity standards set by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). According to data provided by Bureau of Indian Standards, Nagpur Branch at NIT Building Gokulpeth Market as on November 18, about 35 city based jewellers out of 800 jewellers have failed to comply with purity test of gold ornaments during the sample survey which BIS conducted between September, 2021 and September, 2022. Sanjay Agrawal, who has recently obtained the figures under the Right to Information (RTI) query on November 11 from BIS.

A senior official of BIS, Nagpur Branch on the condition of anonymity said that out of 800 jewellery shops, close to 35 jewellery samples failed the gold cartage test. The BIS officials observed other shortcomings and malpractices at some of the jewellery shops. Action will be initiated against these jewellers as per the , the official said. About 110 samples are conducted in a span of one month in the city, the official added. Similarly, the BIS Mumbai office has suspended one hallmarking centre in Itwari, as hallmarking was not done properly. The hallmarking centre is owned by Bharat Suryawanshi.

Hallmarking is a certification of purity given by Assaying and Hallmarking Centres (AHCs) accredited by the BIS that the piece of gold is of certain purity. The gold hallmarking has been made compulsory in the country by the Central Government from June 16, 2021. Gold jewellery sold from jewellery shop must have BIS hallmarking to certify gold purity. The Hallmarking unique identification (HUID) is a 6 digit alpha numeric code is marked on each gold item hallmarked after July 1, 2021. This can be checked by consumer via the consumer app -- BIS Care app.