The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has launched a five day hallmarking awareness drive in northern India, for retail jewellers to directly address their concerns on hallmarking certification, with BIS representatives.

The onset of this drive, which began today, saw 150 jewellers from the Tricity raising their concerns including - the need for an assaying centre for silver ornaments in Chandigarh, which currently has two gold hallmarking centres, and lacks one for silver jewellery, due to which retailers currently depend on centres in Delhi. The high cost of certification, lack of security provisions at the centres due to which jewellers incur the loss of stolen or misplaced articles, were also some such issues raised.

The BIS representatives noted that certain changes are being undertaken by the body for the convenience of the jeweller – like an easier process for granting licence, rationalising fee structure for jewellers, addressing the lack of staff at the hallmarking centres. Also, the BIS is undertaking to enhance machinery at all its hallmarking centres in the country, under the soon to be launched set of standards, IS151829.