No effective law to curb carcinogens in India gold jewellery

Last Updated : 24 June 2011 at 13:40 IST
KOCHI (Commodity Online): Amendments are awaited in Industries (Development and Regulation) Act and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Act to effectively curb the use of carcinogens in manufacturing of gold ornaments in India.

But, with a legal amendment mired in the tussle between two Central Govt ministries in India, the retail consumers here stands the likelihood of ending up buying gold ornaments with iridium and ruthenium contents which are detrimental to health.

In what could turn out to be an issue of national importance in India, the High Court of Kerala has observed that gold ornaments sold in the State in south India is adulterated with carcinogens.

In a recent affidavit, it has been submitted in the High Court by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) that gold jewellery sold in the state has carcinogenic contents in the form of iridium and ruthenium, freely added by ornament makers.

The agency, assigned with maintaining Standards in India expressed helplessness that unless an amendment in the form of Industries (Development and Regulation) Act has been made, the respective BIS Act cannot be amended. This makes it impossible the agency to intervene in the issue or take action against jewellers.

But, for the same amendment to be through, the tussle between India’s Commerce Ministry and Consumer Affairs Ministry stands as a road block. The Court however refused to comment regarding this.

The court expressed concern that the issue of adulterated gold being sold in the State has not received necessary attention from Centre and State Governments.

India is among the largest consumer of retail jewellery in the world and Kerala is a consumer pocket in this regard. The practise of adding platinum group metals to gold can prove to be hazardous to health, experts observe.

Back in 2009, N.Sankara Menon, a senior advocate had in a letter to the High Court alleged that the manufacturers of gold ornaments had been adulterating the same with iridium and ruthenium. The court has taken suo motto note of it and started engaging stake holders. The Bureau of Indian Standards was made a party to the case and was sought necessary clarification.

The agency filed an affidavit acknowledging that the carcinogens are being added freely by ornament manufacturers.

The High Court has made the ministries who are in loggerheads parties to the case.

As published in: http://www.commodityonline.com/news/No-effective-law-to-curb-carcinogens-in-India-gold-jewellery-40263-3-1.html