Bureau of Indian Standards(BIS) and Hallmark

Context: The government of India recently announced that the sale of gold jewellery and gold artefacts hallmarked without a six-digit alphanumeric shall not be permitted from April 1, 2023.

About Bureau of Indian Standards(BIS):

• BIS is the National Standard Body of India established under the BIS Act 2016
• It works under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.
• It was formerly the Indian Standards Institution (ISI), set up under the Resolution of the Department of Industries and Supplies in 1946.
• The ISI was registered under the Societies Registration Act, of 1860.
• A new Bureau of Indian standard (BIS) Act 2016 was brought into force in 2017.
• BIS has its Headquarters in New Delhi.
• President, Ex-officio: Hon’ble Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India.
• Vice President, Ex-officio: Hon’ble Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India.
• Objectives:  harmonious development of the activities of standardization, marking and quality certification of goods and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

BIS is involved in various activities as given below:

• Standards Formulation
• Product Certification Scheme
• Compulsory Registration Scheme
• Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme
• Hall Marking Scheme
• Laboratory Services
• Laboratory Recognition Scheme
• Sale of Indian Standards
• Consumer Affairs Activities
• Promotional Activities
• Training Services, National & International level
• Information Services

About Hallmark:

• Hallmarks are thus official marks used in many countries as a guarantee of the purity or fineness of precious metal articles.
• The principle objectives of the Hallmarking Scheme :
  • to protect the public against adulteration
  • to obligate manufacturers to maintain legal standards of fineness.

• Who issues Hallmark: Bureau of Indian Standards
• For which products: Gold and silver jewellery
• Applicable since: It is applicable for gold since 2000 and for silver since 2005.

Procedure For Obtaining Registration by Jeweller for Sale of Hallmarked Jeweller / Artefacts

• Any jeweller willing to obtain a certificate of registration for selling Hallmarked Gold and Silver Jewelry/artefacts shall apply online in the BIS portal.
• The certificate of registration is granted instantly to the jeweller without the need to upload any document or pay any fees for the same.
• The certificate of registration stands valid for a lifetime. 

About  Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID):

• HUID is a six-digit alphanumeric code .
• It is given to every piece of jewellery at the time of hallmarking and is unique for each piece.
• It is being implemented by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in a phased manner.
• Hallmarking & HUID are mandatory for 14-, 18- and 22-carat gold jewellery and artefacts.
• The Government has made it mandatory the introduction of a HUID number in every piece of jewellery.

Source: THE HINDU

Previous Year Questions

Q.1) Consider the following statements: (2017)

1. The Standard Mark of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is mandatory for automotive tyres and tubes.
2. AGMARK is a quality Certification Mark issued by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Q.2) What is/are the purpose/purposes of the Government’s ‘Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme’ and ‘Gold Monetization Scheme’? (2016)

1. To bring the idle gold lying with Indian households into the economy
2. To promote FDI in the gold and jewelry sector
3. To reduce India’s dependence on gold imports

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3