Hallmark Registration
It is a certification of purity of gold articles in accordance with Indian Standard specifications. It has been acting as a safeguard to purchasers of gold and gold articles for centuries in various countries
After evaluating and testing the gold article of jewellers, these marks are allotted. Hallmarked jewellery authenticate that the metal used in jewellery conforms to the national and international standard of fineness and purity.
Hallmark consists of five components i.e.
1. BIS Mark,
2. Purity Grade
3. Jewelers Identification Mark
4. Hallmarking Centre’s mark, jeweller’s mark and
5. Year of marking denoted by a code letter and decided by BIS (e.g. code letter ‘A’ was approved by BIS for the year 2000, ‘B’ being used for the year 2001 and ‘C’ for 2002).
Marking is done either using laser marking machine or punches. Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) hallmark, a mark of conformity widely accepted by the consumer, bestows the additional confidence to the consumer on the purity of gold jewellery.
In India Bureau of Indian Standards, is the country’s apex standards body, involved in the development of technical standards (popularly known as Indian Standards), product quality and management system certifications& customer affairs in all matters concerning standardization, certification and quality. Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certified jewellers can get their jewellery hallmarked from any of the BIS recognized Assaying and Hallmarking Centre.
The main objective of assaying and hallmarking is to protect a consumer against victimization of irregular gold quality. Besides consumer satisfaction, hallmarking helps to create export competitiveness of gold jewelry industry thus provide a strong impetus for gold jewelry exports.
Grant Of Hallmark Certificate
Any jeweler willing to obtain Certificate of Registration for Selling Hallmarked Jewellery/artifacts shall apply with self-certified copies of documents listed below from (a) to (e) with the online application or submit hard copies to the Branch office of BIS having jurisdiction of the area where the jeweler is located, with the application. Registration is granted to the applicant if the application is found to be complete with all necessary documents and fees enclosed within five working days.
Documents Required BIS (Hallmarking)
• a) Proof of establishment of the firm or company (Any one of the document given below)
1. i) Certificate of Registration issued by Registrar of companies along with memorandum of articles
2. ii) Registered or Notarized Partnership Deed in case applicant is a Partnership Firm.
3. iii) Certificate from a Chartered Accountant if applicant is a Proprietorship Firm or any other document like trade licence indicating firm as proprietorship, or
4. iv) GST Registration Certificate indicating status of firm as proprietorship firm
• b) Proof of address of firm’s premises (Any one of the documents given below)
1. i) Registration with State Government Authority/ Trade Licences
2. ii) GST registration certificate.
3. iii) Income Tax Assessment Order
4. iv) A latest Property tax receipt
5. v) Rent agreement with last rent receipt
6. vi) Sale/ Lease Deed agreement.
• c) Proof of Identity of the signatory
1. i) Aadhar based verification/ e- signature
2. ii) Self-certified copy of any one of following documents as identity proof of signatory on the Application:
– Aadhar Card – Driving Licence
– PAN card
– Voter Identity card
– Passport
– Identity Certificate with photo issued by Gazetted Officer on official letterhead.
• d) Map indicating location of premises from nearest landmark
1. Location map of premises from some nearest prominent landmark for each outlet, as applicable (illustrative only).
e) Proof in regard to the annual turnover
1. i) Self-certified copy of GST return of the previous financial year, or certificate issued by a Chartered Accountant for Turnover, if firms/ Jewellers turnover is below 40 lakhs and he does not have GST Registration, or Balance sheet of Jeweller, dully certified by the Chartered Accountant. An undertaking may be obtained from the Jeweller that if his turnover exceeds threshold limit he will take GST Registration and will submit GST Return to BIS after completion of one financial year and difference as per actual turnover.
2. ii) If the firm is new, an undertaking from the firm with expected turnover and assurance to submit GST return after completion of current financial year and deposit the difference as per actual turnover.
3. iii) In case of corporate certificate of registration if the applicant has only one single GST return than the firm may be asked to submit certificate from Chartered Accountant mentioning the turnover of each outlet.
Hallmark Registration Fee
The government has notified new guidelines for BIS Hallmark Licence Fees. The license fee will now be known as Registration fees and it will be based on turnover in place population.