In the post lockdown phase where trust of the customer is extremely important for jewellers, three standards for hallmarked gold jewellery are not enough. Jewellers have urged the government to extend the next year's deadline for mandatory hallmarking.

The Centre, in November last year, had announced that hallmarking of gold jewellery and artefacts would be made mandatory across the country from January 15, 2021.

The government had given jewellers more than a year to shift to hallmarking and register themselves with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), and they would be allowed to sell only hallmarked jewellery and artefacts made of 14, 18 and 22 -carat gold.
Any violation would attract penalty and imprisonment.

Due to the lockdown, jewellers have lost almost three months for sales and operations. It will take another 3-4 months before sales get back on track. It is highly likely that they will be left with jewellery with no hallmarking. According to jewellers, another six months would not be enough to exhaust their existing stocks.

The hallmarking service providers also support the extension of the deadline. About 40 per cent of the gold jewellery in the industry is not hallmarked. India Bullion and Jewellers Association had also demanded for extension of the deadline by a year. 

Source: PTI