In a bid to clarify the distinction between natural and synthetic diamonds, India’s Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) recently convened a meeting to standardize terminology for both types.
The government body highlighted the urgent need to address significant issues surrounding the inconsistent terminology and lack of proper disclosure in the diamond industry. These issues, it said, have led to confusion among consumers and the spread of misleading practices.
Additionally, the Bureau of Indian Standards has made it clear that the term “diamond” should only be used for natural stones. All lab-grown diamonds, regardless of their production method or material, must be labeled explicitly as “synthetic diamonds.” The CCPA also stated that synthetic diamonds should not be graded alongside natural diamonds.
A 2019 consumer protection law aims to eliminate unfair trade practices and promote transparent labeling in the diamond sector. This was reinforced last month by the Central Board of Direct Taxes and Customs, which mandated that companies must clearly state whether a diamond is natural or lab-grown. If it is lab-grown, they must specify whether it was created using Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) or High Pressure-High Temperature (HPHT) methods.
During the meeting, government authorities set out new guidelines that include clear labeling and certification for all diamonds, outlining their origin and production methods. They also prohibited the use of misleading terms like “natural” or “genuine” for synthetic diamonds and introduced accreditation systems to regulate and standardize diamond-testing laboratories.
The CCPA announced that it will release a comprehensive set of guidelines soon.
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