Central Government important decision: Gold bullion hallmarking mandatory after Jewellery

As of now, gold jewellery hallmarking is mandatory across 288 districts. The Centre plans to make hallmarking of gold bullion mandatory, a top official said on Monday. Pramod Kumar Tiwari, Director General, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), said, “We have started a process of consultation. An advisory group has been constituted, which includes representatives of all stakeholders including jewellers and government officials. Central Government important decision: Gold bullion hallmarking mandatory after Jewellery.

We have also prepared draft guidelines, as to how to implement this. Now the advisory group will consider it. Once an agreement reaches on the draft, we will circulate it for wider consultations. Our endeavour is to ensure mandatory hallmarking of gold bullion by taking on board all stakeholders as soon as possible.”

Addressing a press conference, Pramod Kumar Tiwari said the demand for making gold bullion hallmarking mandatory came from jewellers. “We decided that it’s a good idea,” Pramod Kumar Tiwari said.Pramod Kumar Tiwari said that the advisory group includes representatives of mints, gold refineries, gold importers, jewellers, and Assaying and Hallmarking Centres.

The Centre has also said that the sale of gold jewellery and gold artefacts hallmarked without a Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number shall not be permitted in the country from April 1, 2023. The HUID is a unique 6-digit alphanumeric code consisting of numbers and letters. According to the ministry, the HUID will be given to every piece of jewellery at the time of hallmarking and it is unique for every piece of jewellery.

This unique number is stamped, manually, on jewellery at the Assaying & Hallmarking Centers (AHCs). Pramod Kumar Tiwary said, “The step is being taken to safeguard and protect the consumers and enhance their confidence in purchase of hallmarked gold jewellery with traceability and assurance of quality.” “Hallmarked jewellery already sold and lying with consumers as per old scheme shall remain valid,” Pramod Kumar Tiwari said.

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