Govt sets ball rolling for compulsory hallmarking of jewellery

Act giving powers made effective from Oct 12; jewellers call it their own 'RERA moment'

The government has empowered the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to make hallmarking of jewellery compulsory. This can only be in 14, 18 and 22 carat. When diamond-studded jewellery is made, usually 18 carat is the maximum purity preferred.

The notification issued by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs has said that the changes passed by the Parliament in the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 will be effective from October 12, 2017.

The act actually establishes the BIS as the National Standards Body of India with much wider coverage apart from jewellery. The Act enables Centre to appoint any authority/agency,