Page 21 - Bullion World Volume 03 Issue 5 may 2023

Bullion World | Volume 3 | Issue 5 | May 2023

substandard quality as and when app may often lead to suspicion and articles per annum in the initial 2
detected by the BIS befalls on that arguments, even at later stages. As years of mandatory hallmarking,
party whose name is displayed in the far as the hallmarking centers are With mandatory HUID hallmarking in
BIS care App and the manufacturer’s concerned, for studded articles, place from 1.4.2023, these volumes
name in that slot may insulate the they are uploading the gross weight are expected to grow considerably.
small retailers from any punishments furnished by the jeweler, even when Daily HUID hallmarking work in
for the deficiency in quality /purity of BIS stipulates that on such articles, March 2023 has gone up to 8 lakh
the ornament. the net weight of its gold content pieces per day, from the earlier
shall be additionally laser marked for volumes of 4 lakh pieces per day.
At the AHC’S, 6 details of the consumer awareness This often leads to HUID portal
ornament are uploaded to the BIS bottlenecks, which are now sorted
portal The jewellery trade is aggrieved out by installing additional dedicated
1-name of the hallmarking entity, that removing the old hallmarks servers for HUID work.
2-name of the hallmarking center by scraping the jewellery for re-
3-gold content /karatage of the hallmarking to HUID is often leading HUID hallmarking too is prone to
article to the loss of valuable gold dust, misuse and manipulation by the
4-type of article –chain /bangle /ring thereby imposing an additional stakeholders. HUID of certified
5-date of hallmarking burden on the retailer, along with articles are duplicated or cloned
6-weight of the article, the re-hallmarking charges of rs. on similar substandard articles,
45 / piece. BIS has now agreed that HUID numbers issued from an AHC
Out of this, the first 5 details are the new HUID rehallmarking may are duplicated on other articles by
visible to the customer in the BIS be done without removing the laser outside laser machine job workers
care App. However, revealing the marks of the old 4 hm logos, which etc, posing serious challenges to the
date of hallmarking often lands the is a relief for AHC’S as well, in saving credibility of hallmarking. This can
retailer in difficult situations. Even precious time spent on removing the be prevented by activating the HUID
for a 6-month-old jewellery article, old hallmarks. transfer facility in the BIS portal,
the customer often think that it is an wherein the HUID of goods once
old fashion design and often start The AHC’S critical machines are sold is immediately transferred to the
demanding other latest designs. integrated with the HUID portal and customer’s name in the BIS portal, or
Since gold does not have any expiry only such integrated machines are the name slot can even be masked
date, revealing its date of hallmarking to be operated for HUID hallmarking as SOLD. When the original HUID
in the BIS care App may not have at the AHC’S. Machine integration is blocked this way, it will enable
any relevance for the consumer and is being done for workflow the detection of articles with cloned
hence it may not be revealed to the automation and real-time data HUID and will ensure foolproof
consumer and this matter is under uploading to HUID portal, also to consumer protection
the consideration of the BIS detect malpractices at the AHC’S.
This real-time process flow to the The parliamentary committee on
Another lacuna is revealing the BIS portal calls for considerable consumer affairs is taking an active
weight of an article in the BIS care bandwidth/portal capability for interest in matters of hallmarking,
app so that the consumer is assured uninterrupted hallmarking work at to protect the interest of common
of the hallmarked article’s identity. the AHC. Whenever the server is consumers and the ministry has
This may be sufficient for smaller slow or down, HUID hallmarking time started a massive media campaign
jewellers selling readymade items, gets extended from the existing 5 to publicise the BIS care App and
but revealing the original weight hours to 14 hours and beyond, often the benefits of full traceability in
in HUID may create problems for leading to severe hardships for the HUID hallmarking
bigger retailers, who often increase jewellery vendors.
or reduce the weight of an article at
the sales counter. The chain may While launching the BIS HUID
be lengthened, a locket may be portal, the hallmarking volumes
added, etc, to suit the customers’ were 4 crore pieces per annum,
preferences, and a mismatch of the which has now gone up to 10 crore
weight in the invoice via the BIS care pieces / 1000 tonnes of jewellery

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