CIBJO is considering acknowledging laboratories that are compliant with CIBJO’s Gemmological Blue Books.

A draft document was put forward on November 3 to the Gemmological Commission at the 2024 CIBJO Congress for discussion.

Under the proposal, the listing would be reviewed annually whereby any listed laboratories would be required to confirm their operational adherence to the CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Blue Book.

Listing would not imply any form of agreement by CIBJO with results reported in gemmological reports.

The laboratories would bear sole legal responsibility for their reports. CIBJO would bear no legal responsibility.

There would be no requirement by a laboratory that is a member of CIBJO to be listed. A decision whether or not to be listed, would be taken by each laboratory under the proposal now being considered.

Outstanding questions included: who, within CIBJO, would assess those who would potentially be approved to be acknowledged by CIBJO.

Under the proposal, it would be agreed that in the case of a reported result that is disputed by another listed laboratory, an open and transparent discussion should take place between the laboratories and the clients to resolve the issues.

Hanco Zwaan, President of CIBJO’s Gemmological Commission, told the CIBJO Congress that in his view, more work needed to be done to tailor the proposal.

“The idea is to create more openness and transparency,” Mr Zwaan said.

It was not yet known if a fee would be required to be paid to CIBJO by a laboratory after it has been approved to be acknowledged by CIBJO.