The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is India’s national standards body, operating under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (MoCAF&PD). BIS is tasked with developing and enforcing standards that protect consumers and ensure the quality of products, with a focus on gold jewellery and artefacts through mandatory hallmarking.
In a significant move to strengthen gold jewellery regulation in India, BIS has announced the inclusion of 9-karat gold under its mandatory hallmarking regime. This regulatory update, through BIS Amendment No. 2, aligns with the BIS Act, 2016, which sets strict standards for purity and certification of gold jewellery sold in the country. The new guideline will be effective from July 2025 and is part of a broader push to standardize gold purity and improve consumer confidence in the Indian gold market.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NEW REGULATION
- Mandatory hallmarking now includes 9K gold, expanding from the earlier 14K, 18K, and 22K segments.
- Enforcement is under the BIS Act, 2016, emphasizing legal compliance for all gold jewellery and artefact sellers.
- The hallmarking process remains crucial for verifying the authenticity and fineness of gold products.
THE HALLMARKING PROCESS EXPLAINED
Hallmarking gold ensures transparency and protects consumers from adulteration. The hallmark on a gold product indicates that it has been tested and certified for specific purity and standards, carrying the following key elements:
- Official BIS Logo: Displays the product’s certification and compliance.
- Purity Marking: Denotes karat (e.g., 9K) and fineness (measured in parts per thousand or ppt).
- Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID): A 6-digit alphanumeric code for traceability and authentication.
These features make it easy for consumers to verify their jewellery’s quality and for authorities to track the product’s origins. This process fosters consumer trust and deters the circulation of substandard or counterfeit gold items.
IMPACT ON GOLD JEWELLERY INDUSTRY AND CONSUMERS
With the extension of mandatory hallmarking to 9-karat gold, India’s gold market becomes more robust and internationally competitive, upholding standards in line with global best practices. Consumers benefit by getting assurance about the quality and purity of their gold purchases, reducing the risk of fraud. Jewellers must now ensure all new 9K gold jewellery sold is hallmarked by authorized BIS centres, promoting industry-wide accountability and transparency.
The BIS Amendment No. 2 is a progressive step toward tighter regulation and consumer protection in India’s gold jewellery market. The hallmarking of 9-karat gold, effective from July 2025, aligns the sector with international quality standards and substantially increases consumer confidence in the purity and authenticity of gold products.
