The Union minister for food and consumer affairs, Sharad Yadav has set up a committee to examine the feasibility of making hallmarking of gold jewellery mandatory.

The 13-member committee will be headed by the consumer affairs secretary, Wajahat Habibullah. It will examine whether the current gold products hallmarking scheme should remain voluntary or be made mandatory.

The hallmarking concept ensures that the buyer gets gold jewellery of a purity value that the seller claims. The committee will include representatives from the Bureau of Indian Standards, Reserve Bank of India, MMTC, Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council, Federation of Consumer Organisations and All India Sarafa Association and also representatives from the Union ministries of finance and commerce.

The detailed terms of reference of the committee will be worked out after each represented organisation nominates its member and the first meeting of the new body is held.