Doc: STI/2112/1 October 2005 SCHEME OF TESTING AND INSPECTION FOR CERTIFICATION OF SILVER JEWELLERY/ARTEFACTS FOR FINENESS MARKING AS PER IS 2112 1.0 LABORATORY A laboratory shall be maintained Silver jewellery/artefacts which shall be suitably equipped and staffed to carry out the different tests in accordance with the methods given in the Indian Standards. 2.0 TEST RECORDS All records of analysis and tests shall be kept in Form No. 1 and Form No. 2 as enclosed with this Scheme. 2.1 Copies of any records that may be required by BIS shall be made available at any time on request. 2.2 Quality Control It is recommended that, as far as possible, statistical Quality Control (SQC) methods may be used for controlling the quality of the products as envisaged in this Scheme [See IS 397(Part 1):1972, IS 397(Part2):1985 and IS 397 (Part 3):1980]. 2.3 In addition, effort should be made to gradually introduce a Quality Management system in accordance with the Quality System Modules as per IS/ISO 9000 and as appropriate to the activities of the Silver jewellery/artefacts manufacturer. 3.0 STANDARD MARK/HALLMARK The Standard Mark which is one of the components of the Hallmark under this scheme and, as given in Column(1) of the First Schedule of the licence shall be marked on each Silver jewellery/artefacts by the Assaying and Hallmarking Centre, provided always that the Silver jewellery/artefacts to which this mark is applied conforms to every requirement of the specification. For this purpose the BIS certified Silver jewellery/artefacts (licensee) shall submit each batch of Silver jewellery/artefacts to the Assaying and Hallmarking Centre with each piece of silver article to be marked with silver manufacturer s/retailer s logo (along with identification mark of item manufactured to BIS and year of marking approved by BIS), at appropriate place, who shall then assay the Silver jewellery/artefacts as per the sampling plan duly approved by BIS and then laser mark the Hallmark. (See Clause 3.1) 3.1 Marking 3.1.1 The following information shall be given on each Silver jewellery/artefacts by Assaying and Hallmarking Centre/ retailer or manufacturer: a) The Standard Mark; b) Fineness ( 999 & 925) as applies; c) Assaying and Hallmarking Centre's Logo d) Silver jewellery/artefacts manufacturer s logo
e) Code letter for the year of marking (as communicated by BIS) 3.1.2 Only linear designs shall be permitted. 3.1.3 The jewellery/artefacts shall be as defined in IS 2112. 4.0 LEVELS OF CONTROL 4.1 For Silver medallion/ artefact Manufacturers 4.1.1 Control Unit - A control unit is defined as a) and/or b) given below: a) Silver jewellery/artefacts having same fineness manufactured using same raw material i.e. fine silver, in one process. b) Silver jewellery/artefacts having same fineness got manufactured using same raw material i.e. fine silver and solder by the same artisan for a maximum period of 15 days 4.1.2 The analysis and tests, as indicated in Table 1 and at the levels of control specified therein, shall be carried out on the production of Silver jewellery/artefacts which are covered by this scheme and appropriate records and charts maintained in accordance with Para 2 above. 4.2 For Silver jewellery/artefacts Retailers 4.2.1 Control Unit - A control unit is defined as given below: Finished silver jewellery/artefacts having same fineness accepted after testing for fineness, from one artisan / supplier at a time. 4.2.2 The analysis and tests as indicated in Table 2 and the levels of control specified there in shall be carried out on the silver jewellery/artefacts procured which is covered by this scheme and appropriate charts and records maintained in accordance with Para 2 above. 4.3 All the production which conforms to the declared purity when tested as per IS 2113 and covered by this licence shall be offered for hallmarking to BIS recognized Assaying and Hallmarking Centres. 4.4 In order to promote hallmarking of Silver jewellery/artefacts the coverage under hallmark by the retailer / licensee shall be as decided by the BIS from time to time 4.5 The identity of each control unit shall be separately maintained till test results are obtained. 4.6 All articles of silver jewellery/artefacts shall pass for declared fineness. However, if any sample does not conform to the declared fineness the control unit shall be rejected for the purpose of offering for hallmarking. It may however be downgraded to next lower permitted fineness. 4.7 On the basis of tests and analysis results, the decision regarding conformity or otherwise, of a control unit to the given requirement shall be made.
5.0 In respect of all other clauses of the specification the manufacturer shall maintain appropriate controls and checks to ensure that the Silver jewellery/artefacts conforms to the various requirement of the specification. 6.0 REJECTION A separate record shall be maintained giving information relating to the rejection/reprocessed control units of Silver jewellery/artefacts which do not conform to the specification. Such material shall in no case be stored together with those conforming to the declared fineness. 7.0 SAMPLES The licensee shall supply, free of charge, the sample or samples required in accordance with the Bureau of Indian Standard (Certification) Regulations from his premises, factory or showroom. The remnant, if any, of tested Silver jewellery/artefacts shall be returned to the manufacturer. 8.0 REPLACEMENT Whenever a complaint is received soon after the Silver jewellery/artefacts with the Hallmark have been purchased and used, and if there is adequate evidence that the product have not been misused, the same shall be replaced free of cost by the licensee in case the complaint is proved to be genuine. The final authority to judge conformity of the Silver jewellery/artefacts to the Indian Standard shall be with BIS. 8.1 In the event of any claim being filed by the consumer against the above Mark and not conforming to the declared fineness as per the relevant Indian Standard, entire liability arising out of such non conforming Silver jewellery/artefacts shall be of licensee or the Assaying and Hallmarking Centre as proved by the investigation carried out by BIS, and BIS shall not in any way be responsible in such cases. 9.0 ALTERATIONS TO HALLMARKED ARTICLE 9.1 Alterations to hallmarked Jewellery/artefacts shall not be allowed in any form or manner. 9.2 However the following may be allowed: a) Repair of hallmarked article with not more than 1 g silver or 10% of the weight of the article which ever is less with silver of same standard of fineness as of the article. b) Coating of not more than 1 micron at any point on the article with silver of the same standard of fineness as of the article. 10. STOP MARKING 10.1 The submission of Silver jewellery/artefacts for hallmarking by the Assaying and Hallmarking Centre shall be stopped under intimation to BIS, if at any time, there is some difficulty in maintaining the conformity of the Silver jewellery/artefacts to the specification or the testing equipment goes out of order. The marking may be resumed as soon as the defects are
removed under intimation to BIS. The information regarding resumption of marking shall also be sent to BIS. The submission of Silver jewellery/artefacts for hallmarking shall be stopped immediately if directed to do so by BIS for any reason. The marking may be resumed only after permission by BIS. 11. DISPLAY REQUIREMENTS Licensee shall have a separate counter for hallmarked Silver jewellery/artefacts and SHALL clearly display the following information at prominent place of the sales outlet: (see Form 3 also) a) Hallmarked sillver jewellery/artefacts available here b) BIS Licence No. CM/Lc) Hallmark illustration and definition of each component 925 Hallmarking Centre s Mark Manufacturer s Mark Year Code SILVER PURITY OR FINENESS MARK The relationship of Grades of silver with Fineness (purity) as specified in IS 2112 Grade Fineness 9999 999.9 } 9995 999.5 } Fine silver 999 999.0 } 970 970.0 } 925 925.0 } Silver Alloys for silver Jewellery and artefacts 835 835.0 } 800 800.0 } Magnifying Glass (at least 10x magnification )for viewing Hallmark available Complete name and address. 11.2 Hallmarked jewellery / artefacts to be differentiated through special counter/tag /label etc 12. DATA ON QUANTITY HALLMARKED The licensee shall send to BIS as per the enclosed Performa 1 statement of quantity produced marked and exported by him and the trader value thereof duly authenticated by a chartered accountant at the end of each year of the licenses.
PERFORMA I PROFORMA FOR OBTAINING QUANTITY HALLMARKED DETAILS (Period to be covered by the Report being... to... )* Name of Licensee CM/L No. Name of Articles(s) IS No. Variety 1.1 Brand/Trade/Name(s) of Hallmarked jewellery/artefacts 2. Total production of the article(s) licensed for hallmarking 2.1 Total production of the article(s) conforming to Indian Standard 3. Production covered with Hallmarking and its approximate value a) Quantity b) Value Rs. 3.1 Brand Name used on articles Hallmarked a) Quantity covered with Hallmark *Information to be filled up by BO before forwarding to the licensee. Note: In case a clause is not applicable, suitable remarks may be given against it. b) Concession rounded off in whole rupees as obtained by applying unit rates given in (a) 4. Quantity not covered with Hallmark. If any, and the reasons for such non-coverage 4.1 Brand Name under which non hallmarked jewellery/artefacts were sold 5. Quantity Exported with Hallmark and its value 5.1 Brand Name under which Hallmarked jewellery/artefacts are exported 6. Authentication by Chartered Accountant
TABLE 1 LEVELS OF CONTROL TO BE MAINTAINED BY SILVER JEWELLERY/ARTEFACTS MANUFACTURER AS PER IS 2112 (Clause 4.1.2) Test Details Levels of Control Clause Requirement Test Methods No. of Samples Frequency Remarks 5.1 Material Silver 6.1 & 6.1.1 IS 2112 One Each Ingot/Slab or lot of known purity This test may not be carried out if silver Ingot/Slab is accompanied by test certificate. 5.4 Fineness i) Checking for Homogeneity 6.3.1 IS:2112 10% of total number of jewellery/artefacts ( minimum one sample) Each Control unit The purity shall be ensured at the soldered portion also. ii)assaying 6.1.1 One sample from the above 10% Assaying to be done in duplicate from the above sample as per IS: 2113
TABLE 2 LEVELS OF CONTROL TO BE MAINTAINED BY SILVER ARTEFACT RETAILER AS PER IS 2113 (Clause 4.4.2) Test Details Test Methods Levels of Control Clause Requirement Clause Reference No. of Samples Frequency Remarks 5.4 Fineness i) Checking for Homogeneity By non-destructive method (touch stone or XRF) - Silver jewellery/artefacts Each Control unit. ii) Assaying 7 IS 2113 One Each control unit i) Assaying to be done in duplicate from the same sample ii) Assaying as per IS 2113:2002 is permitted from outside laboratory however the records with identification of samples and control unit from which it is drawn is to be mentioned
FORM 1 (Clause 2) Date (1) Supplier of silver articles Control unit No. Declaration of fineness by supplier Quantity received (weight and/or by number Fineness found after in-house checking of all the silver article Homogeneity Check Quantity Name of the Assaying Centre Test results Remarks (Accepted /Downgraded Accepted Downgraded (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11)
FORM 2 (Clause 2) Date `(1) Lot No. Silver articles pertains to control unit number(s) Quantity of silver articles forwarded to A&HM centre (Weight and/or number) Name of Assaying and Hallmarking Centre Declaration of Fineness by the silver manufacturer Hallmar ked with fineness as given in col 6 Quantity of silver articles Down graded and Hallmarked Rejected Hallmarking charges paid to center (Rs.) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (8) (9) Remarks