RJC Certification : Responsible Jewellery Council

A worldwide recognized standard

The Responsible Jewellery Council's Code of Practice is a recognized standard within the Jewellery and Watchmaking supply chain and covers a wide range of issues such as environmental, social, ethical and human rights practices. Certification to the Responsible Jewellery Council Code of Practice is mandatory for all members within 2 years of joining the Responsible Jewellery Council. There are 2 certifications within the Responsible Jewellery Council: the COP (Code of Practice) and the COC (Chain of Custody certification - the latter being reserved for mines).

An approach accessible to all the actors of the Jewellery-Watch industry

For all the actors of the Jewellery-Watch industry. It is based on a voluntary approach. A player wishing to become certified becomes a member of the Responsible Jewellery Council and has 2 years to certify its practices. When ready, it can be audited by a private and independent external firm in the same way as an ISO standard, for example. Then it will have to be audited every 3 years for the renewal of its certification always by a private and independent firm.

In all countries who signed the Kimberley Process

All actors  among the Kimberley Process countries.

On a voluntary basis

At any time, if the company wishes to commit to the Responsible Jewellery Council Code of Practice.

Why? What are the reasons?

To provide its partners and customers with a guarantee of transparency and security on ethical practices, both in the supply chain and in the internal practices of the company itself. The goal is to improve the practices of actors in the diamond, precious stone and jewelry industry.

Several controls are exercised in order to know their supply chain and their suppliers:

- Ethical business practices

- Responsible sourcing and human rights

- Working conditions and labor rights

- Health, safety and environment

- Responsible mining

- Gold, diamond and platinum mining products

But this control is based on the collection of all certificates (Responsible Jewellery Council, Kimberley Process, Canada Mark etc.) from suppliers.

Certification issued by a private and independent audit firm

When the company is ready, it hires an audit firm independent from the RJC to perform the certification audit. The auditor's report is then sent to the RJC, which reviews and validates the certification. This operation is then to be renewed every 3 years.