Lack of security provisions coupled with inadequate infrastructure and lukewarm response from jewellers have put the government decision of making hallmarking mandatory for gold from January 1, 2008 into uncertainties.

According to Bureau of Indian Standards, which issues the hallmark certifying the purity of gold, only around 400 tonnes of the yellow metal have been assayed since it launched voluntary hallmarking in 2000, whereas annual consumption was about 3,900 tonnes during these years.

The BIS authorities agree that it is an uphill task.

"If the jewellers are not ready by that time (by January, 2008 ), there is likely to be a confusion," P Sengupta, Deputy Director General of the BIS, told PTI in Chennai.

What is hallmarking of gold?

Out of the estimated three lakh registered jewellers in the country, only less than 4,000 have got the BIS certification which entitles them to test their gold items in the licenced assaying centres of the organisation.

According to L K Syed Ahmed, president of Madras Jewellers and Diamond Merchants Association, "It is humanly impossible to check the non-hallmarked jewellery within seven months."

But Ahmed said though the jewellers were not against hallmarking but their concern was over inadequate number of testing centres and the lack of security provisions.