India's Voluntary New Code on Lab Grown Terms
January 01, 26
(IDEX Online) -The Indian government has, from today (1 January 2026), introduced a voluntary standard concerning suitable terms to describe lab grown diamonds.
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) says the move is designed to enhance consumer transparency in India's small but growing lab grown sector.
The standard currently has no legal force, but based on precedents and current policy direction, it is likely to become law within three years.
It is acceptable, under the BIS guidance, to use the terms laboratory-grown diamond; laboratory-created diamond and synthetic diamond.
But these terms are unacceptable because they are misleading, abbreviated, or outdated: Lab grown; Lab created; Lab diamond; LGD; Fake; Artificial; Man-made diamond; Cultured diamond; Any standalone "diamond" without qualifier.
The standard applies to the entire diamond industry - jewelers and retailers, traders, manufacturers, processors and graders handling natural, lab-grown, treated, composite and imitation stones, laboratories, exporters, importers and consumer protection authorities.
It is a response to calls by the Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council and follows consultations with the Ministry of Consumer Affairs to address confusion over lab-grown certificates and nomenclature.