Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Madurai conducted search & seizure operation on 29.10.2024 in Pudukkottai District and seized 1643.36 grams of fake gold jewellery.
During the Search and seizure operation at M/s Balaji Jewellery, 71A, Pudukottai Main Road, Lakshmi Complex, Iluppur Taluk, Pudukottai, Tamil Nadu – 622102, 1643.36 grams of gold jewellery worth more than Rupees One Crore, marked with spurious Hallmark symbols including BIS logo, without Hallmark Unique Identification Digit (HUID) were seized by the BIS Madurai.
As per Gazette Notification Order no. 1047(E) dated 03rd March 2023, Hallmarking of Gold Jewellery and Gold Artefacts (Amendment) Order, 2023, no jeweler shall sell gold jewellery without a valid HUID mark which is unique for each gold jewellery after 31st March 2023.
According to Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016, action would be taken to file a criminal complaint against the aforementioned jeweler. The Act provides for imprisonment for a term which may extend up to one year or with fine which shall not be less than one lakh rupees, but may extend up to five times the value of goods or articles produced or sold or offered to be sold or affixed or applied with a Standard Mark or with both as decided by the court.
In order to prevent manufacturers or retailers from distributing fake goods and mislead the wider populace, Bureau of Indian Standards is initiating search and seizure operations based on information of misuse. Consumers before purchasing a product, should confirm the status of the license through BIS Care App; if it is found to be Suspended/ Deferred/Expired/Cancelled, then you may register a complaint. Any information on the misuse of the BIS Standard Marks (ISI MARK, BIS Registration Mark, BIS Hallmark 22K916 XXXXXX, BIS Management Systems Certifications) on any products may be provided to the Bureau through email or letter or BIS CARE app (downloadable from Google Play Store and App Store). The details of Complainant will be kept confidential.