AIR Spotlight: Importance And Benefits Of Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) Number

AIR Spotlight is an insightful program featured daily on the All India Radio News on air. In this program, many eminent panellists discuss issues of importance which can be quite helpful in IAS exam preparation.

This article is about the discussion on: Importance & Benefits of Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) Number.

Participants: 

1. Nidhi Khare: Additional Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs.
2. Omvesh Upadhyay: AIR Correspondent.

Context – The sale of gold and gold artefacts hallmarked without a Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number shall not be permitted in the country from April 1, 2023. 

Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) 

Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number is a six-digit alphanumeric code consisting of numbers and letters. 

• HUID will be given to every piece of jewellery at the time of hallmarking and it is unique for every piece of jewellery. 
• The jewellery is stamped with the unique number manually at the Assaying & Hallmarking centre.
• The 6-digit HUID was introduced on 01 July 2021 and all articles hallmarked post 01 July 2021 have to be hallmarked with HUID only. 
• After the introduction of HUID, the hallmark consisted of 3 marks –
  • BIS logo – The first sign of a hallmark on gold jewellery is the BIS logo. The logo is in the shape of a triangle. The stamp of this logo on gold jewellery shows that the purity of gold jewellery has been checked at a BIS-certified centre.
  • Purity of the article – The second sign of a hallmark on gold jewellery is the sign of purity, the degree of purity of gold in a particular piece of gold jewellery. The purity of gold so determined forms the basis of the price of that piece of gold jewellery.
    • Hallmarking of gold jewellery is permitted in six categories: 14K, 18K, 20K, 22K, 23K and 24K (k= Karat)
  • Six-digit alphanumeric HUID – The third sign of hallmarked gold jewellery is a six-digit alphanumeric code etched on the product. 
•  Each hallmarked article has a unique HUID number which is traceable.
• At present more than 3 lakh gold articles are being hallmarked with HUID every day. At present, 339 districts have at least one AHC (Assaying and Hallmarking Centre).

Hallmarking of Gold 

Hallmark is a mark on gold jewellery which is affixed by an entity recognised by the Bureau of Standards (BIS) to assure its fineness and purity.

• The Hallmark scheme for hallmarking of jewellery was started by BIS in 2000. 
• In June 2021, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) made hallmarking of gold jewellery and artefacts mandatory. After that, the government decided to implement mandatory gold hallmarking in a phased manner. In the first phase, it was made mandatory in 256 districts and 32 more districts were added in the second stage, taking the total number to 288 districts.
• Till date, the old hallmarked jewellery with four marks (BIS logo, purity of the article, logo of the jeweller and Assaying & Hallmarking Centre, AHC) without HUID was also permitted to be sold by the jewellers along with the 6-digit HUID mark. More than a year and 9 months were given to jewellers to clear their stock of their 4-digit hallmarked articles. However, the simultaneous sale of two types of hallmarked jewellery by the jewellers was creating confusion in the mind of the common consumer. The issue was discussed with stakeholders and the government decided to allow only the sale of hallmarked gold jewellery with a 6-digit HUID number only, from April 1, 2023.

Benefits of HUID

India is the second largest gold jewellery consumer in the world. The move is aimed to ensure quality standards and satisfy consumers as it aims to become the third largest economy in the world.

• Hallmarking of gold jewellery provides third-party assurance to consumers on the purity of gold or its fineness.
• HUID gives a distinct identity to each piece of jewellery enabling traceability. It is critical to the credibility of hallmarking and addressing complaints regarding the purity of hallmarked jewellery.
• In HUID-based hallmarking, registration of jewellers is automatic with no human interference. It is aimed at ensuring the purity of the hallmarked jewellery and checking for any malpractice.
• This step is being taken to safeguard and protect consumers’ rights and enhance their confidence in the purchase of hallmarked gold jewellery with traceability and assurance of quality. 

Hallmarked Jewellery as per Old Schemes

Hallmarked jewellery lying with consumers as per old schemes shall remain valid. 

• As per section 49 of BIS Rules, 2018 in case Hallmarked Jewellery bought by the consumer is found to be of lesser purity than that marked on the jewellery, then the buyer/customer shall be entitled to compensation which shall be two times the amount of difference calculated on the basis of shortage of purity for the weight of such article sold and the testing charges.

BIS CARE App

A consumer can check and authenticate hallmarked gold jewellery items with a HUID number using ‘verify HUID’ in the BIS CARE App which is available on both Android as well as iOS.

•  It provides information about the jeweller who got the article hallmarked, their registration number, purity of the article, type of article as well as details of the hallmarking centre.
•  Using this information a common consumer can verify the article being purchased by matching it with the article type as well as its purity.

Read previous AIR Spotlight articles in the link.

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