The Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) has marked 2024 as a milestone year for its gold hallmarking initiative, reporting significant progress in ensuring the authenticity and quality of gold jewellery across India

The Indian Government has rolled out the third phase of mandatory hallmarking in its ongoing endeavour to ensure the authenticity and purity of gold jewellery and artefacts. Effective as of 8th September, 2023, this development aims to cover an additional 55 districts under the hallmarking system

Malabar Gold & Diamonds has welcomed Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs's decision not to allow sale of gold ornaments without the six-digit alphanumeric HUID (hallmark unique identification) number from April 1, 2023.

Hallmarking had been made mandatory from 23 June 2021 only in 256 districts of the Country which had at least one recognized Assaying & Hallmarking Centre

Earlier exempted forms of gold jewellery like Kundan, Polki, Jadau proposed to be hallmarked

The second phase of the mandatory hallmarking will cover additional three caratages of gold jewellery/artefacts such as 20, 23 and 24 carats, as mentioned in the Indian Standard IS 1417

BIS has now made provision to allow a common consumer to get the purity of their un-hallmarked gold jewellery tested at any of the BIS recognized Assaying and Hallmarking Centres

The ripple effects of mandatory hallmarking are already being felt by the retail industry as the move has boosted consumer confidence in gold

Jewellers say hallmarking should be based on POS, and all other applications of storage, display, transit, and so forth, except sale, should be removed from the BIS Act

The HUID system should only be made applicable at AHC level and should not be brought to the level of jewellers, says GJC

Amidst several concerns, long meetings, continual discussions and more, the landmark regulation related to mandatory hallmarking becomes a reality in India – all set to change the course of the Indian G & J Industry completely. Opinions from across the industry highlight the upsides and downsides of thisregulation, says Sugandha R

Mandatory hallmarking has finally become a reality and many jewellery retailers are having mixed opinions – on the whole they welcome the move and are eager to fulfill all requirements of hallmarking

Mandatory hallmarking, final call to be made on June 14 after high level discussion between jewellers’ representatives and BIS officials
 

The Government of India is making hallmarking (certification of purity) of gold jewellery mandatory from 15 June 2021. Among the many difficulties that jewellery business owners are facing in hallmarking their products major ones include: HUID and its impracticalities, dearth of assaying and hallmarking centres in India and heritage jewellery issues when it comes to hallmarking