In India, ensuring the quality and authenticity of precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum is an important concern. As the demand for high-quality jewellery increases, it becomes essential to have reliable systems to check purity. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) plays a key role in this process, providing certification and hallmarking services to establish trust and credibility in the industry. A BIS assay and hallmarking centre ensures that jewellery products meet the required purity standards and are certified accordingly.

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What is BIS Testing and Hallmarking?

BIS testing and hallmarking is a process through which precious metals are tested and certified for purity. Assaying refers to testing to determine the level of purity of precious metals, while hallmarking is the official certification that guarantees the quality and purity of the metal. When jewellery passes these tests, it is marked with a BIS mark, indicating that it meets specific purity standards. This hallmark gives consumers confidence in the quality and authenticity of the products they are buying.

BIS Assays and Hallmarking Centres are authorized facilities where these tests are conducted and the final hallmark is applied to certified jewellery. Hallmark jewellery is trusted by consumers, contributing to a transparent and trustworthy jewellery marketplace. By following proper BIS registration and hallmark registration procedures, the Centre can function efficiently, which can contribute to the overall growth of the jewellery sector in India and internationally.

Why are BIS Assays and Hallmarking Centres Important?

The establishment of a BIS Assay and Hallmarking Centre offers several significant benefits:

• Building consumer trust: Consumers can be confident that they are purchasing genuine, high-quality jewellery that meets BIS standards for purity. Hallmarked jewellery assures the buyer that the metal is not only authentic but also of the claimed purity.
• Regulation and standardization: BIS certification ensures uniformity across the jewellery industry. By following strict guidelines on quality and purity, the industry maintains high standards, promotes fairness and transparency.
• Global recognition: BIS hallmarking is recognized worldwide. This helps Indian jewelers gain access to international markets by assuring global customers of the quality and purity of their products.
• Meeting the market demand: As consumers become more aware of the importance of purity in precious metals, the demand for hallmarked jewellery has increased. A BIS assaying and Hallmarking Centre can cater to this growing demand, helping the industry grow.
• Fraud prevention: BIS hallmarking reduces the chances of fraud by ensuring that only genuine products are sold in the market. This creates a robust and reliable jewellery market.

Guidelines for the establishment of an On-Site Centre (OSC) by a BIS-accredited AHC

BIS allows authorized hallmarking centres (AHCs) to set up on-site centres (OSCs). The following are the key guidelines for setting up an OSC:

• Limitations: An AHC can establish a maximum of five OSCs within a radius of 100 km. OSCs are required to operate in districts that do not already have coverage of hallmarking services.
• Facilities: OSCs must offer all testing services except fire assessments, which are conducted at the parent AHC.
• Responsibility: The parent AHC is responsible for fire assessments at OSCs.
• Application process: AHCs are required to submit an application to the BIS Regional Office with complete details, including sample dispatch and assay reporting procedures.
• Personnel: OSCs must employ mandatory testing staff, including a quality manager supervised by the management of the parent AHC.
• Equipment: OSCs should have the necessary equipment for testing and hallmarking, except fire test tools.
• BIS assessment: BIS assesses the infrastructure of the parent AHC and conducts audits at both the AHC and OSC to ensure compliance.
• Suspension/revocation: Non-compliance with BIS standards may result in suspension or termination of OSC recognition.
• Reporting: Details of the OSC must be included in BIS reports. OSC recognition is renewed with the original AHC.

Also Read: How to Check BIS Hallmark on Gold

Documents Required for Setting up BIS Assays and Hallmarking Centre 

To establish an accredited BIS Assay and Hallmarking Centre (AHC), specific documents must be submitted:

1. Proof of Establishment: One of the following documents must be provided:

Certificate of Registration (CoR) and Memorandum of Association (MoA) for companies.
Registered Partnership Deed for partnership firms.
Certificate from a Chartered Accountant for proprietorship firms.

2. Address Proof: Any of the following can serve as address proof:

Income Tax Assessment Order
GST Registration Certificate
Sale/Lease Deed Agreement
Trade License or State Government Registration
Property Tax Receipt or Rent Agreement

3. Identity Proof of Applicant: Identity verification is required through any of these documents:

Aadhaar Card, Driving License, Voter ID, Passport, or PAN Card.
Aadhaar-based verification or e-signature may also be used.

4. Location Map: A map showing the premises' location along with the nearest landmark.

5. Affidavit-cum-Undertaking: The applicant must submit an affidavit in the prescribed format.

6. Quality Manual: A Quality Manual aligned with the BIS Generic Quality Manual must be provided to ensure that the centre follows proper quality control standards.

Also Read: What is BIS Hallmark for Jewellery in India?

Procedure for Setting up a BIS Assay and Hallmarking Centre

The process of setting up a BIS-accredited assay and hallmarking centre involves the following steps:

1. Application and document submission: The process begins with the submission of a completed application form with all required supporting documents. The documents should provide details about infrastructure, testing equipment and qualified staff at the centre. The application is then submitted to the concerned BIS office.
2. Document evaluation: After receiving the application, the BIS team evaluates the documents to ensure that the centre meets the required standards for infrastructure, equipment and staff qualifications. If the documents are in order, the next step is a physical inspection of the premises.
3. Physical inspection and drafting of report: A BIS auditor visits the Assaying and Hallmarking Centre for physical inspection. The auditor checks the facilities, equipment and processes to ensure that they conform to BIS standards. After the inspection, a detailed report is prepared that outlines the findings and confirms whether the centre meets the required standards.
4. Granting BIS recognition: After reviewing the inspection report and application documents, BIS grants official recognition to the Assaying and Hallmarking Centre. This recognition allows the centre to perform hallmarking services and certify the purity of precious metals as per BIS norms.

Conclusion

The establishment of BIS Assay and Hallmarking Centres is essential to ensure the authenticity and purity of precious metals, boost consumer confidence and support the development of the jewellery industry. By following BIS guidelines, these centres play a vital role in regulating the market, reducing fraud and increasing the global recognition of Indian jewellery. This process includes submitting an application, providing supporting documentation, and conducting a physical inspection to ensure that only qualified centres are authorized to provide hallmarking services. With increasing consumer demand for certified jewellery, while maintaining industry standards, setting up a BIS Assaying and Hallmarking Centre can be a lucrative business opportunity. Hallmarked jewellery assures customers of its quality, which helps it to achieve continued success in the precious metals market.