Thursday, 7th September 2006 (5064 views)

A new, simplified hallmark system from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is encouraging greater numbers of Indian jewellers than ever before to participate.

Though only 1,000 traders had signed up to the scheme between 2000 and the end of 2005, the changes this year have seen numbers shoot up to over 2,000 in just eight months.

Increased publicity has been credited with some of the scheme's recent success, but BIS feels that a simplified accreditation and costs system has provided much of the increased interest.

S B Sharma, director general of BIS, said at a press conference: "Jewellers are seeking more licences from us after the gold hallmarking scheme has been simplified and rationalised in January this year."

Y P Singh, BIS' additional director general, added: "The response has been strongest in the west with Maharashtra and Gujarat together accounting for 645 of all licensed jewellers, over 33 per cent of the all-India figure."

Currently the hallmarking scheme – which is based on the 1972 Vienna Convention – is voluntary, but from the beginning of 2008 it will become compulsory.

 

« Back to the stories

 

The news feeds on this site are independently provided by Adfero Limited © and do not represent the views or opinions of the World Gold Council.