Mint Explainer: Why govt wants stricter gold hallmarking and what will change for buyers

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.The government is moving to close loopholes in its gold hallmarking system, introducing mandatory item-level tracking to end the fraudulent practice of reusing unique identification codes across multiple pieces of jewellery. By digitizing every ornament's physical profile, including photographs and weight, the government aims to formalize a massive, trust-based retail market where light enforcement has often left consumers holding less than they paid for.

Under the new framework from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), jewellers will be required to upload detailed information for every single piece linked to a hallmark unique identification (HUID) number, including photographs and key specifications, at the time of hallmarking.This would make it difficult to reuse or duplicate IDs across multiple pieces, an issue that has triggered consumer complaints in recent years. Mint explains.At present, hallmarking, which is regulated by the Bureau of Indian Standards, assigns a unique HUID to each piece of jewellery as proof of purity.

However, gaps in enforcement have led to instances where the same HUID has been used across multiple items. This creates a mismatch between what is certified and what is sold, undermining the system’s credibility.

Consumer complaints have pointed to cases where jewellery purchased with a specific HUID and purity level was later found to differ in actual composition. In some instances, identical codes were linked to different items, raising concerns over duplication and misuse.