No BIS hallmarked jewellery in State
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 02 2016:
There is no single Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) hallmarked gold jewellery and artifacts in Manipur, according to Deputy Director General of BIS, Rakesh Kumar.
Rakesh Kumar, Deputy Director General of BIS, Eastern Regional Office, Kolkata was speaking to media persons today at the conference hall of Old Secretariat here.
Commissioner of Commerce and Industries, Vivek Kumar Dewangan was also present at the media interaction programme.
He said that there are around 130 gold jewellers in Imphal area.
None of the jewellers are hallmarked by the BIS and the bureau has so far received no application for hallmarking jewellery from the State.
Rakesh said that the implementation of National standards by the manufacturers of Manipur is limited to packaged drinking water and two other products� one cement license and one for TMT Bars.
BIS is a statutory body functioning under the administrative control of the Govt of India, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (Department of Consumer Affairs) and responsible for activities in the field of standardization, product and system certification, hallmarking of gold/silver jewellery, laboratory testing, etc in the country.
Commissioner of Commerce and Industries, Vivek Kumar Dewangan said that the quality of handloom and handicraft products would be enhanced if the products are hallmarked by the BIS.
Dewangan further said that the Manipur Industrial Expo will be held from April 4 in Imphal with the primary objectives of attracting investors and providing opportunities to unemployed youth of the State.
The 11th North East Business Summit will be jointly organised by DoNER Ministry, Indian Chamber of Commerce and International Service Industries during the Expo with 'Service Industries' as the theme, Dewangan said.