New Delhi, Mar 14 (KNN) New applicants having National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) certification will be considered for 1MT gold dore for obtaining Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) license, said a Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) notification.

Gold dore is a semi-pure alloy which is refined for further purification. Refined gold bars are manufactured from gold dore bar.

The notification adding to the above statement said, “No further authorization will be granted to those applicants without BIS license.”

New applicants who have obtained NABL certification were representing to allow them the imports of gold dore for obtaining BIS license. Matter was then discussed with BIS and this decision was taken.

DGFT last year had put the imports of gold dore in restricted category.

It said, “Import policy of gold dore is restricted.” This means that now an importer needs a license to import this commodity.

India, the world's second-biggest gold consumer after China, imports about 900 tonnes of gold a year. (KNN/JM)