Centre notified second phase of mandatory hallmarking which shall come into force from June 01, 2022

What is the News?

The second phase of the mandatory hallmarking vide Hallmarking of Gold Jewellery and Gold Artifacts (Amendment) Order, 2022 will come into force from June 01, 2022.

What is Hallmarking?

Hallmarking is the accurate determination and official recording of the proportionate content of precious metal in precious metal articles. Hallmarks is thus a guarantee of purity or fineness of precious metal articles.

The principle objectives of Hallmarking are to protect the public against adulteration and to obligate manufacturers to maintain legal standards of fineness. 

The Bureau of Indian Standard(BIS) operates the gold and silver hallmarking scheme in India.

According to the scheme, BIS certified jewellers can get their jewellery hallmarked from any of the BIS recognized Assaying and Hallmarking Centres (A&HC).

Implementation of Mandatory Hallmarking of Jewellery in a Phased Manner

First Phase

In the first phase, gold hallmarking was available only in 256 districts and jewellers having an annual turnover above Rs. 40 lakh will come under its purview.

A certain category of jewellery and items will also be exempted from the mandatory requirement of hallmarking.

Jewellery for international exhibitions and jewellery for government-approved B2B (Business-to-Business) domestic exhibitions will be exempted from mandatory Hallmarking.

Second Phase

The second phase of the mandatory hallmarking will cover additional three caratages of gold jewellery/artifacts viz.20, 23 and 24 carats.

Moreover, 32 new districts have been added under the mandatory hallmarking regime wherein an AHC has been set up post-implementation of the first phase of the mandatory hallmarking order. 

Source: The post is based on the article “Centre notified second phase of mandatory hallmarking which shall come into force from June 01, 2022” published in PIB on 30th April 2022.