Hallmark stamp is compulsory in all gold ornaments: Government
Posted on: 13/Aug/2016 12:47:48 PM
The Central Government has made it mandatory that all golden ornaments should have the Hallmark stamp. Hallmark is a purity certification of gold articles in accordance with standards prescribed by the bureau of Indian standards (BIS). Gold ornament is tested at an assaying and hallmarking centre before being certified for purity. Though this was approved by the government in the year 2000, it has still not come into force.
The government has now made it mandatory for all jewellers to get pure gold jewellery hallmarked by assaying centres approved by the Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS).
James Jose, Vice-President, Indian Association of Hallmarking Centres, said :The spread of hallmarking centres is skewed to cities and large towns as it is largely driven by the demand. With about 100 new hallmarking centres coming up in various cities with an investment of Rs 1 crore each, the country will have adequate capacity to hallmark the annual demand of 900 tonnes.The hallmarking by 375 BIS recognized centres increased by six per cent last fiscal to 370 lakh jewellery pieces weighing about 500 tonnes. A hallmarking centre requires a minimum income of Rs 3 lakh a month to survive. Considering that hallmarking centres charge Rs 25 a piece of irrespective size and gold content, it requires 12,000 pieces a month to break even.
