A new classification of silver under upcoming EU regulations which state a possible risk to the sexual and reproductive health of humans from handling the precious metal, risks causing “image damage” for silver in the public perception that will raise a requirement for effective communications by the industry, the CIBJO Precious Metals Commission reported during its session on the final day of the 2024 CIBJO Congress in Shanghai.

The President of the CIBJO Metals Commission is Vaishali Banerjee.

The new classification of metallic silver under EU regulations will take effect from May 1, 2026.

No new restrictions will be required, but companies using silver in their processes are expected to incur additional costs for administrative matters, such as the obligation to draw up safety sheets. Labour protection must be adapted accordingly.

Classifications, labelling and packaging of individual products must be reviewed and adapted.

“Possible ‘image damage’ for silver in the public perception: counteract by informing customers, association work,” Karina Ratzlaff, a Preciuous Metasl Commission Vice President, said in a presentation to the CIBJO Congress.

Separately, the ISO is considering a new proposal to update the definition of recycled gold that should be published in the first half of 2025, the CIBJO Congress heard. A concern in the industry has been manufacturers sending back gold scraps from a given mine for recycling.

“Any gold traceable to a mine and segregated can keep the mined gold typology,” Jonathan Jodry said in a presentation to the CIBJO Congress.

The proposal will create sub-categories for recycled gold than are usable by the market, but not mandatory.

“This standard will benefit everyone – it will make the standard cleaner,” Mr Jodry said in a presentation of the ISO Standards.

Alice Vanni of Italpreziosi SpA gave a presentation about a new toolkit for precious metals supply chain management.

U.S.-based Larry Drummond, Executive Director of the International Precious Metals Institute (IPMI), outlined to the CIBJO Congress plans to boost cooperation and strengthen ties with CIBJO.

Vaishali Banerjee, President of the Precious Metals Commission, told the CIBJO Congress plenary that the Precious Metals Blue Book needs to be updated, and that she hoped to present an updated version to the 2025 CIBJO Congress.