(a) whether adulterated gold jewellery items are being sold by some manufacturers;
(b) if so, whether the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has issued an amendment prohibiting the use of some adulterants in gold jewellery and artefacts; and
(c) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government to implement the said amendment?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI TASLIMUDDIN)
(a) : While assaying gold jewellery for the purpose of
Hall Marking by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) recognized
Assaying and Hall Marking Centres, the presence of some low
value platinum group metals like ruthenium and iridium was
observed.
(b) & (c): BIS has issued an Amendment No. 1 to IS 1417:
1999 – Gold and Gold Alloys Jewellery/Artefacts - Fineness
and Marking – Specification so that such elements could be
detected before assaying of the gold jewellery is undertaken
and rejected for Hall Marking, if found adulterated by
ruthenium and iridium. This amendment has been implemented
w.e.f. 7th January, 2005 by the BIS.