India : Hallmarking marks upheaval in jewelry industry

Under the shelter of the All India Gems and Jewellery Traders Federation, members of all the 15 associate bodies across India observed an unsounded protest against the implementation of Hallmarking Act on December 26.

The Government has been accused for not taking the jewelers into confidence while drafting the act, and now again while it is implementing it. Hallmarks are essentially a guarantee mark on jewelry testifying its purity and the Central Government has already made it mandatory. It will start implementing the Act in the four metros of India and then enforce the same in the rest of the cities.

Housing nearly 35,000 outlets in the four cities, the Act will be imposed with effect from January 1, 2008. Traders are expressing dissent over compulsory licensing for retailers on grounds of implementing the Act without establishing adequate testing centers, not providing exemptions, following practices of the West which is unrealistic and finally excessive penal provisions without providing means for petition.

On an average, the four metropolitan cities will require around 500 testing centers whereas the Government is all set to implement the Act with mere 25 testing center facilities. With the day approaching nearer, there’s hardly any hope that alteration would be brought about to pacify the traders.
Source: fibre2fashion