BIS seizes 804g of non-hallmarked gold jewellery from Chennai shop

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Chennai Branch Office, has seized 803.99 grams of non-hallmarked gold jewellery from a shop in Ambattur, Chennai, following an enforcement search and seizure operation conducted on September 1, 2026.

The action was taken under Section 28 of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016, after gold jewellery was found displayed for commercial sale without the mandatory hallmark.

The seized stock comprised 175 mangalsutras (thalis) weighing 671.50 grams, 12 children's bangles weighing 25.02 grams, 40 earrings weighing 86.14 grams and 10 pendants weighing 21.33 grams. The items, in various designs and categories, were being offered for sale without the required hallmarking. They have been confiscated for detailed investigation and further legal proceedings.

The operation was carried out by officials and support staff of the BIS Chennai Branch Office, with assistance from the local police.

Shri S. D. Dayanand, Head of the BIS Chennai Branch Office, said the bureau regularly undertakes market surveillance and enforcement activities to ensure that products covered under mandatory BIS certification and hallmarking requirements comply with prescribed standards. Such actions, he said, are important to prevent the sale of substandard products, check misuse of the BIS Standard Mark and Hallmark, and maintain consumer confidence in the certification and hallmarking system.

Hallmarking provides an official indication of the purity or fineness of precious metal articles. Under the current system, hallmarked gold jewellery carries the BIS logo, purity or fineness details and a six-digit Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number. Consumers can verify the HUID of hallmarked jewellery through the BIS CARE app.

Appropriate legal action is being initiated against the concerned persons under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016.