Plan to mandate Gold bullion hallmarking, boost jewellery exports: Consumer Affairs Secretary

Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare has said that the government is considering a proposal to mandate hallmarking of Gold bullion as part of quality assurance for greater acceptability across India. Stating that Indian women need the blessings of a quality mark in jewellery to not feel cheated while buying, she said that the 6-digit HUID number has increased its credibility in the eyes of consumers.

Stressing on the need to ensure traceability of hallmarked Indian jewellery even after decades to ensure transparency in the industry, she called for an increase in overall exports. She noted that the Ministry of Commerce & Industry is working in coordination with other ministries to double exports of Indian gems & jewellery in the next 5 years as she pointed to several existing and potential FTAs (Free Trade Agreements) providing a boost to trade in the sector. Stating that a lot of jewellery is still being imported into India, she suggested that India can have an annual fair to showcase its rich tradition of intricate jewellery to attract global buyers

Speaking at a Gems and Jewellery Conference in New Delhi, she noted that Indian jewellery is replete with craftsmanship, unlike primordial jewellery in many other countries. She took exception to a country which claims to make the best but costly watches and had refused to recognise Indian hallmarked jewellery. While she didn’t name the country, she said that it otherwise wants access for its watches in India, which it describes as hand-crafted and embedded with precious metals as part of value addition. She called for according of mutual respect of Indian hallmarks globally, adding that the Indian diaspora can play a big role in driving global popularity for hallmarked Indian jewellery.

The Secretary stressed on the need to protect consumer rights to prevent lab-grown diamonds being sold in the garb of costlier natural diamonds, assuring that a framework is likely to be made soon on lab-grown diamonds as a guidance to industry.

The Department of Consumer Affairs is also slated to come out with guidelines to prevent pesky calls soon, having started its engagement with stakeholders. The Secretary pointed out that work was slowed down as the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) as the sector regulator was also coming up with rules. With the rules now in place, she added that the industry wants guidelines to be put out to safeguard consumer interest.