New Delhi, Nov 4 (IANS): The government could make hallmarking compulsory for gold jewellery by January next year to certify the purity of the metal being sold.

Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan said buyers generally don't know about the quality of gold they buy from jewellery shops because not all ornaments are not certified.

"We plan to make hallmark for gold jewellery mandatory. It should be done by January," the minister said on the sidelines of an event organised by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

He said the ministry was working on bringing hallmarking regulations under the new BIS Act 2016 as the existing BIS mark did not necessarily mean to convey quality of jewellery to consumers.

"Hallmarking will also mention the carat of gold used in the ornaments. It will be done for jewellery in three categories - 14 , 18 and 22 carats," he said.

Inaugurating the seminar on "Standards Make Cities Smarter" organized by BIS on the occasion of 48th World Standards Day here, Paswan also commended the revision of the standards on gold jewellery with the three categories.

He laid special emphasis on the consumer protection that would get enhanced through new Consumer Protection and the BIS Act.

C.R. Chaudhary, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, emphasised on the importance of standards for international cooperation.

He said standards provide practical tools for tackling many of today's global challenges, ranging from managing resources to improving the safety and quality of the life.