Enforcement search led to seizure of gold jewellery bearing spurious BIS Hallmark at Andheri East

MUMBAI: Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) officials had conducted an Enforcement Search and Seizure operation at Andheri  in Mumbai on Monday (July 12, 2021) to check the misuse of BIS Hallmark on gold jewellery. About 714 grams of gold jewellery bearing spurious BIS Hallmark was seized during the operation. During the search and seizure operation at the premises of M/S Classic Karat Assay Lab Pvt. Ltd., located at Unit No. 24 in Mistry Industrial Complex at Andheri East, the firm was found to be misusing the BIS Hallmark on gold jewellery belonging to M/s Amore Jewels Pvt. Ltd., M/s Abans Jewels Pvt. Ltd., M/s Om Shilpi Jewels and Gems Pvt Ltd., M/s Satkar Jewellers, Parel, M/s Kalash Gold & Ornaments Pvt. Ltd., M/s Kalash Jewels, Andheri (E), and M/s Uni-Design Jewellery (India) Pvt. Ltd,  without valid BIS recognition.

As per the Hallmarking of Gold Jewellery and Gold Artefacts Order, 2020 issued by the Department of Consumer Affairs, gold jewellery and gold artefacts shall mandatorily bear BIS Hallmark, starting from 16th June, 2021, onwards. The BIS Hallmark presently consists of 3 parts — BIS logo, purity in carat and fineness, and a 6-digit alpha-numeric “Hallmarking Unique Identity (HUID)” number which is different for each article/artefact. The jewellery can be sold only by jewelers registered with BIS, and can be hallmarked only by BIS recognized Assaying and Hallmarking Centres (AHCs).

The misuse of BIS Standard Mark, including Hallmark, is punishable with imprisonment up to two years or a fine of minimum Rs. 2,00,000, which may extend up to ten times the value of articles affixed or applied with a Standard Mark, including Hallmark, or both as per BIS Act 2016. Action is being initiated to file a case in the court of law for the aforementioned offence.

BIS been observed many times that spuriously hallmarked jewellery is sold to consumers for huge profit. Therefore, all are requested to look for complete BIS hallmark, including BIS logo, purity in carat and fineness, and HUID on jewellery. Details of certified jewelers can also be seen before making the purchase by using the ‘BIS CARE’ mobile app and visiting BIS website http://www.bis.gov.in.

Courtesy: Press Information Bureau