Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Guwahati branch has dismantled an unauthorized hallmarking centre following reports of illegal activity. Officials raided M/s Ganesh Hallmarking Centre on Col. J. Ali Road in Lakhtokia on June 18 after a two-week investigation into potential violations of the BIS Act, 2016.
During the operation, authorities discovered the firm was using a laser marking machine to apply counterfeit BIS logos onto gold jewellery. Officials immediately sealed the machinery and confiscated various materials used for the illicit process. BIS stated that "gold jewellery falls under the mandatory hallmarking regime notified by the Government of India, making unauthorized hallmarking a serious violation of the law."
The agency is now pursuing legal action under Section 14(6) of the BIS Act. Offenders face significant penalties for unauthorized hallmarking, including potential imprisonment for up to one year and fines reaching five times the value of the goods involved. The BIS law strictly forbids any non-recognized entity from using, engraving, or imitating the official Standard Mark on notified products.
This enforcement action is part of a broader effort by the Bureau to protect consumers from fraud and ensure market authenticity. BIS officials confirmed they conduct regular raids based on verified information and encouraged the public to report any suspicious sales or misuse of official certification marks.
Comments