BIS Seizes 803.99 grams of Non-Hallmarked Gold Jewellery in Chennai

· BIS Chennai Branch Office conducted an enforcement search and seizure operation at a jewellery shop in Ambattur, Chennai, on 1 September 2026.

· 803.99 grams of non-hallmarked gold jewellery was seized for being displayed for commercial sale without the required hallmarking.

· Seized jewellery included:

o 175 mangalsutras (thalis) – 671.50 grams

o 12 children’s bangles – 25.02 grams

o 40 earrings – 86.14 grams

o 10 pendants – 21.33 grams

· The action was taken under Section 28 of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016.

· The seized articles have been confiscated for investigation and further legal proceedings.

· The operation was conducted with assistance from local police.

· BIS highlighted that mandatory hallmarking helps ensure the purity/fineness of precious-metal jewellery and protects consumers.

· Hallmarked gold jewellery currently carries the BIS logo, purity/fineness indication and six-digit HUID.

· Consumers can verify the HUID through the BIS CARE app.

· Legal action has been initiated against the persons concerned under the BIS Act, 2016.

· BIS stated that it will continue market surveillance and enforcement against non-compliant jewellery and misuse of the BIS Standard Mark/Hallmark.

[ABS News Service/11.09.2026]

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Chennai Branch Office, seized 803.99 grams of non-hallmarked gold jewellery during an enforcement search and seizure operation at a jewellery shop in Ambattur, Chennai, on September 1, 2026. The action was carried out under Section 28 of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016, after non-hallmarked gold jewellery was found displayed for commercial sale.

The seized jewellery included 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 BIS enforcement team found the jewellery in different designs and categories being offered for sale without the required hallmarking. The articles were seized under the provisions of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 and have been confiscated for detailed investigation and further legal proceedings.

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

BIS steps up market surveillance to protect consumers

Shri S. D. Dayanand, Head of the BIS Chennai Branch Office, said that BIS regularly undertakes market surveillance and enforcement activities to ensure that products covered under mandatory BIS certification and hallmarking requirements comply with the prescribed standards.

He said such enforcement actions 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.

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

Legal action initiated

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