In its audit report on the performance of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for 2010-11, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) criticised the autonomous body for lagging behind in achievement of targets fixed for grant of licences to jewellers under the voluntary hallmarking scheme .

The BIS had targeted 1,500 hallmarking licences in 2010-11, of which 1,297 licenses have been issued, it said.

The national auditor also criticised the BIS for not carrying out targeted number of surveillance visits in 2010-11 to check the purity of hallmarked gold.

It could visit 412 jewellers, 48 per cent down from the targeted 789.

The surveillance visits indicated a number of lapses on the part of jewellers like licence documents not being displayed, details of hallmarking not being displayed on cash memos and magnifying glasses not being available among others, it added.

At present, about 77 items, including cement, mineral water and milk products, are certified through mandatory hallmarking under the BIS Act for conformity with expected quality levels.