Please refer to the trail mail. The Bureau of Indian Standards (“Bureau”) earlier through a notification dated 14th June, 2018 made hallmark mandatory for precious metal articles.
Pursuant to the above referred notification, The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (“Ministry”), Government of India, through notification dated 14th June, 2018 enacted Bureau of Indian Standards (Hallmarking) Regulations, 2018 (“Regulation”).
The Regulation gains immediate effect.
Important Definitions given under this Regulation:
1. Act – “Act” means the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016.
2. Rules – “Rules” means the Bureau of Indian Standards Rules, 2017
3. Carat – “Carat” means the ratio between the mass of gold content and the total mass expressed in parts per twenty four.
4. Fineness – “Fineness” means the ratio between the mass of precious metal content and the total mass expressed in parts per thousand.
Key Highlights of the Regulation:
A. All Jewellers are mandated to apply for registration to sell precious metal articles as per the Bureau of Indian Standards (“Bureau”) Act, 2016 to the Bureau as per specified form given in the Regulation.
B. Application for registration as referred above can be made in person or through authorized representative.
C. All applications shall be submitted with necessary documents as specified in the Regulation along with prescribed fees for application.
D. The registration certificate shall be valid for 5 years.
E. The registration certificates shall be given on premises basis, for different premises of the same jewellers.
F. The registered jeweller shall display the original certificate in the sales outlet.
G. The registered jewellers are mandated under this Regulation to hallmark the articles to be sold by them from authorized hallmarking centers of the Bureau.
H. The registered jewellers in possession of hallmark jewelries shall be liable for its purity and fineness.
I. The registered jewellers shall be liable to pay compensation in case of shortage of purity and fineness.
J. The registered jewellers shall pay hallmarking fees to the hallmarking centres.
K. The registered jeweller shall maintain record of copies of request for hallmarking (i.e. bill, invoice etc.) for a period of five years or till the hallmarked articles are sold, whichever is longer.
L. The registered jewellers shall apply for renewal before 30 days of expiration of the existing license. The Bureau may renew, non-renew or cancel the existing license if the Bureau is not satisfied with respect to documents submitted for renewal but subject hearing of the registered jewellers in this regard.
M. In case of non-renewal or cancellation of registration, the Bureau shall be giving prior notice to the concerned jewellers.
N. A jeweller shall stop the sale of hallmarked precious metal articles and stop getting precious metal articles hallmarked from any assaying and hallmarking centre in case of cancellation of registration or pendency of any proceedings regarding the same.
O. The Regulation further deals with Recognition of Assaying and Hallmarking Centre and with respect to licensing of Refinery or Mint.
Please refer to the hyperlink below for further details.
Source: Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
