Last updated: December 17th, 2019 5:00 PM

BIS Hallmark Certification

A hallmark refers to a certification stating that gold and silver jewellery is genuine. In India, hallmarks are issued under the authority of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Using the BIS Hallmark Certification, the public will be able to identify the difference between genuine and counterfeit jewellery. Thus, the BIS Hallmark Certification sets a good standard for the jewellery business in India. The Government of India regulates the procedure for obtaining a BIS Hallmark Certification through the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution (MCAFDP). The process of obtaining a BIS Hallmark Certification involves two steps. At the time of opting for BIS Hallmark Certification, the jeweller should apply in Form I. Subsequently, for applying the hallmark on the jewellery, the jeweller should approach an Assaying and Hallmarking Center (AHC). On 29th November 2019, the MCAFDP announced that with effect from 15th January 2020, the BIS Hallmark Certification would be mandatory for all items of jewellery that are sold in India.

Process of Applying for Hallmark Certificate

• A person applying for Hallmark Certification should use Form I. The application should be submitted to the BIS. The following is the format for Form I :

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• The application fees payable is Rs.1000.
• In case there is any correction required in the form, the BIS will intimate the applicant. The applicant should make the necessary correction within fourteen days from the date of the intimation.
• In case the application is rejected, the fees paid will not be refunded.
• After the registration is approved, it will be intimated to the applicant. On receiving the intimation, the applicant should pay the registration fees within fourteen days. The registration fees are as follows:

S.No.	Turnover	Registration fees payable
1	Above Rs.100 crores	Rs.80000 per branch
2	Above Rs.25 crores and up to Rs.100 crores	Rs.40000 per branch
3	Above Rs.5 crores and up to Rs.25 crores	Rs.15000 per branch
4	Less than Rs.5 crores	Rs.7500 per branch

• Registration fees are payable for one precious metal only. In case the jeweller has paid the registration fees for gold jewellery, he need not pay any registration fees at the time of applying for silver jewellery.
• If a jeweller has more than five branches in India, he can opt for a combined certificate of hallmark. In such cases, a discount of 10% is available for the fees payable for each branch.
• Certificate of hallmark has a validity of five years.

Documents Required

Self-certified copies of the following documents should be attached to the form:

• A Certificate of incorporation and a Certificate of commencement of business issued by the Registrar of Companies (RoC).
• Address proof and identity proof of the promoters
• Latest Income Tax Return filed
• Latest Financial Statements, certified by a practising Chartered Accountant (CA)
• Latest Form AOC-4 filed with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA).
• Map indicating the location of the premises

Conditions

A jeweller who has received the hallmark certificate should follow the conditions mentioned below:

• The jeweller should ensure that the jewels sold by him have a content of gold which matches with the carat value. The carat value is a measurement of purity of the gold. The carat value should be imprinted in the jewels sold. Imprinting cannot be done for jewels which are small in size. As a result, in the case of small jewels, a label is affixed to the jewel. The label should mention the carat value of the jewel.
• The GST invoices should be maintained separately for the purchase of the jewels that have an identification mark different from the one used by the jeweller. Also, in such cases, a letter of authorisation should be obtained from the seller.
• In case the purity of the jewels does not meet the carat value, the jeweller should pay compensation to the buyer.
• Bills issued should mention description, weight, carat and hallmarking charges of the jewels.
• The jeweller should prominently display the original hallmark certificate on the premises.
• The BIS may call for an investigation in case it receives a complaint about the quality of the jewels sold. When an investigation is being performed, the jeweller should co-operate with the officers in charge of the investigation.
• In case there is a change in the address of the jewellery business, the BIS should be informed. The application used to give this information is Form I. The words