Bureau of Indian Standards issues hallmark licences for gold, silver jewellery

NEW DELHI: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has until now issued 9,156 licences for gold jewellery and 537 for silver jewellery/artefacts with the aim to ensure the quality of ornaments for common consumers.

This licences have been alloted till January 2012. BIS has recommended compulsory hallmarking of gold and silver jewellery for ensuring the quality of the ornaments for the common consumers. BIS also got a scheme for issuing licences for assaying and hallmarking centres which will help the smaller manufacturers of gold and silver jewellery to get their items hallmarked at these centres.

Moreover, 178-such centres have been recognised/issued licences by BIS until January 31 this year. BIS is the national Standards Body of India working under the aegis of Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.

It has been set up by the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986 that became effective on 23 December, 1986. BIS is headquartered in the national capital, with regional offices in Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, Chandigarh and Delhi, and 20 branch offices.