The government of India will make jewelry hallmarking mandatory, according to a recent media report.

The Financial Express newspaper of India reports that hallmarking will be instituted in phases, beginning in places where assaying centers are already present, a senior official said.

“We will not make hallmarking mandatory at places where there are no assaying centers. We will roll out it in phases starting from the places where assaying centers already exist,” Ministry of Consumer Affairs Secretary L Mansingh told the newspaper.

Hallmarking comprises stringent checks and controls for ensuring the quality and purity of gold. The government had previously planned to make gold hallmarking mandatory by Jan. 1, 2008. Currently, the Bureau of Indian Standards, a government agency, grants hallmark for gold on a voluntary basis.

Mansingh rdportedly that self-certification of jewelry has been ruled out because the market “isn’t mature enough” to allow it.

Mansingh also spoke of the need for India to become a member of the Vienna Gold Convention.

JCK