Gold hallmarking charges increased; check new charges, other details

The second phase of mandatory gold and silver hallmarking came into effect from June 1, 2022. As the rule was enforced, gold jewellery of only 14,18,20,22,23 and 24 carats are sold across the country. According to a notification from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the hallmarking fee for gold jewellery and artefacts from Rs 35 to Rs 45. Also, the hallmarking charges on silver jewellery and artefacts have been raised to Rs 35 per item from Rs 25 per piece earlier.

Notably, the minimum consignment fee on gold and silver jewellery or artefacts has not been hiked.

Gold or silver hallmarking charges are calculated according to the number of pieces to be accredited and not the weight of the jewellery or artefacts.

Also, BIS has hiked the hallmarking charges for the first time since 2018 when it introduced Hallmarking Regulations 2018.

In November 2019, the government announced that hallmarking of gold jewellery and artefacts would be made mandatory across the country from January 15, 2021. Jewellers were given over a year to adopt hallmarking and register themselves with the BIS. However, the deadline was extended for four months till June 1 after the jewellers sought more time to implement in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The mandatory hallmarking order is applicable for jewellers selling to consumers while the consumer can sell their ornaments to the jeweller without a hallmark. The jeweller may melt the jewellery and make new jewellery of grade 14, 18 or 22 carat only as specified in Indian Standard IS 1417:2016 and shall get it hallmarked before reselling it.

In the second phase of hallmarking, BIS also revised the signs of purity on gold jewellery. From June 2022, all hallmarked gold jewellery items have a BIS logo, Purity/Fineness grade and a Six-digit Alphanumeric code, also known as HUID. In the first phase, hallmarked jewellery items were required to carry four signs: BIS logo, Purity/Fineness grade, Assay Centre's identification mark, and Jeweller's identification number.

As per section 49 of BIS Rules, 2018, in case of a precious metal article not conforming to the relevant standards, such compensation to the buyer/customer shall be two times the amount of difference calculated on the basis of shortage of purity for the weight of such article sold and the testing charges.

BIS follows a well-established complaint redressal procedure. Complaints are recorded centrally in Complaints Management and Enforcement Department. Complaints can be made both offline and online. An online complaint can be made through BIS mobile app BIS CARE or by use of an online complaint registration portal on www.bis.gov.in or by sending a mail to coplaints[at]bis[dot]gov[dot]in .

Personally contacting/writing to Public Grievance officer of the nearest Regional/ Branch office of BIS or directly to the Head (Complaints Management and Enforcement Department).

On receipt of the complaint, it is investigated and further actions are taken for its redressal.