The Indian government has empowered the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to make hallmarking of jewelry compulsory, Art of Jewelry report. According to the piece, the hallmarking will be done “only be in 14, 18 and 22 carat” studded jewelry.
The changes passed by the Parliament in the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 will be effective from October 12, 2017. The new act will be implemented in phases, with 22 cities, “mostly metros and state capitals”, being identified in the first phase for mandatory hallmarking.
Industry players, quoted in the piece, say the rule will bring “discipline” to the jewelry industry and will protect consumers’ interests. Several jewelers, however, said that the government will have to issue “all the necessary rules and guidelines” out soon, and give “some reasonable time to the jewellers to complete the procedure of hallmarking”.
