Hallmarking Centre: A Complete Guide to Setting Up and Getting Approval
Hallmarking plays a vital role in ensuring the purity and authenticity of gold and silver jewellery in India. With the increasing focus on consumer protection and quality assurance, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has made hallmarking mandatory for several gold and silver articles. As a result, the demand for certified Hallmarking Centres has grown significantly across the country.
If you are planning to establish a Hallmarking Centre, this blog will guide you through its importance, eligibility, infrastructure requirements, approval process, and compliance norms.
What Is a Hallmarking Centre?
A Hallmarking Centre is a BIS-recognized facility that tests the purity of gold and silver jewellery and issues hallmarking certificates and stamps as per BIS standards. These centres act as authorized testing laboratories that ensure customers receive jewellery with accurate purity markings.
Such centres are crucial for:
- Ensuring purity standards
- Increasing consumer trust
- Supporting jewellers in meeting mandatory hallmarking regulations
- Improving transparency in the gold and silver market
Why Hallmarking Centres Are Important
With the rapid expansion of the jewellery industry, the need for standardized and accurate hallmarked jewellery has become essential. Hallmarking Centres help:
✔ Prevent fraud and impurity-related disputes
The hallmarking process eliminates adulteration, ensuring that customers get the purity they pay for.
✔ Strengthen the jewellery supply chain
Jewellers gain credibility and consumers get value-assured products.
✔ Support mandatory BIS Hallmarking
As hallmarking becomes compulsory across districts, more centres ensure faster testing and certification.
Eligibility to Set Up a Hallmarking Centre
To establish a Hallmarking Centre, the applicant must:
- Be an individual, firm, or company registered in India
- Have adequate financial capability
- Possess technical knowledge or employ qualified personnel
- Have a BIS-compliant lab infrastructure
- Fulfil guidelines issued under Scheme-II of BIS (Hallmarking Scheme)
Infrastructure Requirements for Hallmarking Centre
Setting up a Hallmarking Centre requires specific equipment, space, and laboratory facilities as mandated by BIS.
Minimum Infrastructure Requirements:
-
Laboratory Setup
- Fire Assay Laboratory for gold
- XRF Spectrometer for non-destructive testing
- Electronic balances
- Fume hoods
- Cupellation furnaces
-
Space Requirements
- Minimum area as specified by BIS
- Separate zones for testing, sample preparation & administrative work
-
Qualified Staff
- Assayers
- Technical analysts
- Lab supervisors
-
Safety & Environmental Provisions
- Proper exhaust and ventilation
- Fire safety system
- Waste disposal setup
Documents Required for Hallmarking Centre Approval
- Application form for Hallmarking Centre
- Identity and address proof
- Company registration documents
- Layout plan of laboratory
- Equipment purchase details
- Staff qualification certificates
- Proof of financial capability
- Quality assurance manual
- NOC from local authorities (if applicable)
Process of Getting Approval for Hallmarking Centre
Below is the step-by-step BIS approval procedure:
Step 1: Application Submission
Apply online on the BIS portal with required documents and fees.
Step 2: Preliminary Document Review
BIS evaluates financial, technical, and infrastructure documents.
Step 3: BIS Inspection
A BIS officer visits the site to verify:
- Equipment
- Lab setup
- Staff qualifications
- Safety provisions
Step 4: Test Sample Evaluation
Trial samples are tested to check process accuracy.
Step 5: Grant of Recognition
If all parameters meet BIS standards, the Hallmarking Centre receives its Recognition Certificate.
Hallmarking Centre Responsibilities
Once approved, the centre must:
- Follow BIS Hallmarking Scheme guidelines
- Conduct accurate purity tests
- Maintain proper records
- Submit periodic reports to BIS
- Ensure no conflict of interest with jewellers
- Maintain equipment calibration
- Renew recognition as required
Benefits of Starting a Hallmarking Centre
Starting a Hallmarking Centre can be highly profitable and impactful due to:
✔ Growing jewellery market
✔ Increasing BIS norms and regulatory enforcement
✔ Demand for fast, accurate purity testing
✔ Long-term business stability
✔ Opportunity to serve jewellers, manufacturers & traders
Conclusion
Setting up a Hallmarking Centre is a prestigious and highly responsible business that contributes directly to consumer trust and quality assurance in the jewellery industry. With BIS making hallmarking mandatory across India, the opportunities in this sector are growing rapidly.
If you plan to establish your own Hallmarking Centre, ensuring compliance with BIS guidelines, robust infrastructure, and skilled manpower is the key to successful recognition.
