Bill for mandatory hallmarking of more items cleared

The government today cleared the Bureau of Indian Standards (Amendment) Bill, 2011 paving the way for introduction of mandatory hallmarking of more products including gold. At present, about 77 items including cement, mineral water and milk products are certified with mandatory hallmarking under the BIS Act to conform to the quality level of goods and services to consumers.

According to sources, the Union cabinet cleared the bill, which seeks to empower the government to make hallmarking — certification of a product or process — mandatory on the grounds of public interest.

Section 14 of the BIS Act provides the Consumer Affairs Ministry the power to make those industrial products and processes for compulsory hallmarking that are listed under the Industries Development and Regulation Act (IDRA), 1951.

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