India Extended Deadline for Mandatory Hallmarking of Gold Jewellery and Artefacts

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The Indian government announced its decision to extend the deadline for mandatory hallmarking of gold jewellery and artefacts by a couple of weeks, in view of Covid-19 pandemic. Several trade bodies have been demanding extension of the deadline.

Initially, the government had made hallmarking of gold jewellery and artefacts mandatory across the country effective mid-January 2021. This deadline was later extended by a period of four months until 1^st June, 2021.

The official statement by the Government Ministry noted that compulsory hallmarking requirements will be implemented from 15^th June, after which jewellers will be allowed to sell only 14, 18 and 22 carats of gold jewellery. The postponement of the deadline follows acceptance of requests of stakeholders, so as to give more time for jewellers to get prepared with the requirements.

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Also, the government announced formation of a committee to coordinate and resolve any issues that may arise during the implementation phase. It will be headed by Pramod Tewari, Director General, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and will have Nidhi Khare, Additional Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs and representatives of jewellers associations and hallmarking bodies among others as its members.