Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) should consider implementing mandatory hallmarking for silver and silver artifacts following consumer demands, said Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi. Speaking at the 78th BIS Foundation Day event, he said, “There is a demand from consumers for hallmarking of silver. You (BIS) can deliberate and take a call.”
Notably, the government currently mandates hallmarking only for gold jewellery and artifacts, aimed at protecting consumer interests and ensuring product authenticity. According to the government data, over 44.28 crore articles of gold, jewellery/artefacts have been hallmarked so far.
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The existing hallmarking system includes a unique six-digit alphanumeric code (HUID), which certifies gold purity. Hallmarking is the process of certifying the purity and quality of precious metals, such as gold and silver. It ensures that the metal meets the prescribed standards set by regulatory authorities.
At the event, the minister applauded the Bureau for its legacy and unwavering commitment to upholding the core values of quality, trust and excellence. He mentioned that BIS Quality Marks have become a symbol of trust across multiple sectors promoting agriculture, manufacturing and technology.
On this occasion, BIS formalised collaborations with academic institutions such as IIT Tirupati, IIT Bhubaneswar, IIM Nagpur, NIT Warangal, and IIFT Delhi through Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) aimed at fostering innovation, improving industry practices, and advancing sustainable development goals.
