India joins global jewellery hallmarking convention

New Delhi, July 8 (ANI): The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the proposal for accession by India to convention on control and marking of Articles of precious metals known as Vienna Convention 1972.

"Accession to the convention will result in technological upgradation of the country's assaying and hallmarking centres and their recognition by the members of the Vienna Convention," Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni told reporters.

She said the decision would also facilitate jewellery exports from the country.

Assaying Centres recognized by the convention countries will be authorized to put the Common Control Mark (CCM) on jewellery articles of precious metals meant for exports.

Jewellery articles marked for exports by such recognized assaying centres in India would not be subjected to further tests for purity in the member countries of Vienna Convention, thus facilitating export of jewellery items from India.

Upgradation and international recognition of assaying Centres will also result in improvements in the quality of gold jewellery articles in the domestic market, thus benefiting the Indian consumers.

The higher level of consumer awareness about the purity of jewellery articles will make the jewellers in India more accountable to the Indian consumers. (ANI)