BIS framework standards for emerging technology such as blockchain; no extension on 6-digit HUID on stamped gold

The government’s standards-setting body BIS said on Tuesday it is drawing up standards for new technologies such as blockchain, and claimed it would not extend the April 1 deadline to make the six-digit alphanumeric HUID mandatory for gold-marked jewellery.

Addressing a press conference, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) chief Pramod Kumar Tiwari said, ”We create standards to make doing business easier. Our national standards are being harmonized with international standards so that our external trade is smooth”.

Out of 22,000 BIS standards, 8,000 standards are harmonized with international standards consisting of IEC standards for electric fields and ISO standards for non-electric fields. In fact, 88 percent of the BIS standards are already harmonized with the global peers, he said. India is actively engaged in designing standards for emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, brain computing interfaces and big data analytics, among others. The country is leading projects in these new areas at the international level, which will emerge as ISO standards in the future, he added.

Regarding gold marking, Tiwari said that the government has set April 1 as the deadline for the sale of gold jewelery and gold objects marked with only a six-digit alphanumeric HUID (Hallmark Unique Identification), and that this will not be extended. ”We have given more than 2 years for jewelers to clear the old old warehouse. No further extension will be granted now, he said.

A meeting was recently held with the jewelers’ body to impress upon them to implement the 6-digit HUID mark on gold jewellery, he added.

On the jewellers’ suggestion, Tiwari said the Bureau has decided to include the “weight” of gold jewelery and articles as part of the hallmark. Apart from this, laser machines used for 6-digit HUID mark at analysis centers are also harmonized with the BIS system to protect the interests of consumers and ensure that people are not cheated with a duplicate stamp of the HUID mark. There are around 1,400 analysis centers in the country. Gold marking is a purity certification of the precious metal. It was voluntary in nature until June 16, 2021. The six-digit HUID number was introduced on July 1, 2021. Until now, the old stamp has adorned with four marks (BIS logo, the purity of the item as well as the logo of the jeweler and the Assaying and Hallmarking Center ) without a HUID was also allowed to be sold by the jewelers together with the six-digit HUID mark. After the introduction of HUID, the mark consisted of three marks — the BIS logo, the purity of the article and the six-digit alphanumeric HUID. Each stamped article has a unique HUID number, which is traceable.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is automatically generated from a syndicated feed.)