KATHMANDU, SEP 30 -Latest market monitoring and sample tests of jewellery have shown gold dealers have started to maintain quality in their products. Of the 14 products tested on Sunday, 13 were of “first class” quality, according to the Department of Commerce and Supply Management.
Resuming the inspection of the jewellery market, the department on Sunday monitored five jewellery shops—New Baral Jewellery, Sayapatri Merry gold Jewellers, Lucky Jewellers, Natraj Jewellers and Jaya Matadi Gold Palace—of the Capital.
“We found the outlets maintaining first class quality this time,” said Hari Narayan Belbase, director of the department. He added the 24-carat gold products were found 99.6 percent pure, against 90 percent in some products in previous inspections.
The sample tests, which were conducted by the Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology (NBSM) on Sunday, showed only one product of Sayapatri Merry gold Jewellers was of low quality. The monitoring team had sent products such as gold chain, necklace, earring, ring, bangle and silver products for the tests.
The department has instructed jewellery traders to keep the price list in their shops and submit the purchase and sale bills of the last 10 days within the next three days.
In last inspection, the department had sent 20 items for tests to the NBSM. Of them, 18 were found to be of low quality. The department has so far filed cases against eight traders who were found cheating customers in quality and weight.
Belbase said they would take action to Sayapatri Merry gold too as per the Consumer Rights Projection Act.
As the demand for jewellery during the festival season goes up, the department said it would continue the inspection also focusing on small jewellery outlets in and outside the Capital.
However, gold dealers have accused the government of carrying out inspection without preparing a monitoring guideline. “The government had agreed with us to conduct monitoring only after endorsing the guideline,” said Mani Ratna Shakya, president of the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Association. He said the standard rule was a must.
Following pressure from bullion traders, the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies is working on the guideline. Belbase said the guideline was in the final stage. But he also said an absence of the guideline would not restrict them to continue the inspection to discourage ill practices in the market.
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