Hallmarking of gold jewellery mandatory from January 2021
The hallmarking of gold jewellery will become mandatory at one go across the nation from January 15, 2021, and will not be implemented in phases, as was expected earlier. However, the Centre has given a year's time to comply with the new norm, which means that while the notification will be issued by January 15 next year, jewellers will be given time until January 2021, after which they will only be allowed to sell hallmarked ornaments.
Addressing the media after the announcement, Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan said today, “Hallmarking of Gold Jewellery & Artefacts is being made mandatory in India for which a notification will be issued by the Department of Consumer Affairs and a period of one year will be given for implementation to ensure that new assaying and hallmarking centres are set up by private entrepreneurs at locations where the demand for gold jewellery and artefacts arises, the registration process of jewellers is completed and retailers are able to clear existing stocks that aren't hallmarked." The Minister said that hallmarking will benefit the poor in villages and small towns, who are not able to ascertain the purity of the gold they are buying.
Asserting that the move is designed to strengthen consumer confidence, create a level-playing field for jewellers and make trade more organised, Ahammed MP, Chairman, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, said, "Now, the need of the hour is to create awareness among the consumers across the country so that they demand hallmarked gold jewellery. The government should ensure that the hallmarking centres follow best practices while assaying the jewellery to ensure uniformity."
The industry is happy because it has a year's time to prepare, though the nationwide implementation was a big surprise. The industry has been saying that there are 350,000 jewellers in the country. According to government announcement today, as on October 31 this year, there were 877 assaying and hallmarking centres spread across 234 districts in the country and so far 26,019 jewellers have taken BIS registration.