The new year is likely to be a most significant one in terms of the regulation of minerals from areas of conflict in Africa, including gold.  It involves legislation coming into effect in 2014 that will influence the businesses of thousands of jewellers directly or indirectly supplying the U. S. market, and pending legislation that may affect companies importing or supplying jewellery in the European Union countries.  The impact of these processes will be the subject of a critically important seminar that will take place on Monday, January 20, during the VICENZAORO Winter show in Vicenza.

Entitled “Conflict mineral legislation in the Europe and the United States: How it impacts on both the domestic and export jewellery business,” the seminar is being organised by Fiera di Vicenza, the Responsible Jewellery Council, CIBJO—the World Jewellery Confederation, and Confindustria Federorafi. It will be held on Monday, January 20, 2014, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, in the Palladio Room at Fiera di Vicenza. The host of the event, Fiera di Vicenza, was accredited in March 2013, through CIBJO, to plan and implement a United Nations-endorsed Corporate Social Responsibility programme for the international jewellery industry.

According to the conflict mineral rules contained in Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Act, publicly-traded companies in the United States, including major jewellery retailers, will for the first time, in 2014, have to file a report with the Security Exchange Commission, tracing their supply chain. Using a nationally or internationally recognized due diligence standard, companies will need to determine whether their supply chain includes gold sourced from the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring countries.

Another legislative proposal on conflict minerals is being developed in the European Union and is being led by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade. It is expected to build on existing efforts and guidelines like the OECD Due Diligence Guidance and the U.S. conflict minerals legislation. It is forecast that a formal regulatory proposal will be brought for consideration before the college of EU commissioners early in 2014.

The seminar in Vicenza will include a blue-ribbon panel that will be presented by Corrado Facco, Managing Director of Fiera di Vicenza, and Gaetano Cavalieri, President of CIBJO. The panelists include Marieke van der Mijn, Standards Coordinator at the Responsible Jewellery Council; Michael Allchin, Chief Executive and Assay Master at the Birmingham Assay Office and the President of the CIBJO Precious Metals Commission;  Philip Olden, who is responsible for managing the development and implementation of responsible sourcing protocols for gold at Signet, the world’s largest specialty jewellery retailer; Maria Benedetta Francesconi of the Italian Ministry of Economic Development, and a representative of Confindustria Federorafi.

The main congress venue will be headquarters of the Russian Jewellery Guild. The congress hotel is the 19th Century five-star Hotel Nikol’skaya Kempinski, which is located in the heart of historic Moscow, within short walking distance from the Kremlin, Red Square and the Bolshoi theatre.

Serving as the official venue for the meeting of the CIBJO Assembly of Delegates, the CIBJO Congress will gather in Moscow the members of national jewellery and gemstone associations from more than 40 countries and representatives of many of the industry’s most important commercial bodies. The congress also serves as a forum for CIBJO’s professional commissions, and is the venue at which its Diamond, Coloured Stones, Pearl, Precious Metals and Gemmological Blue Books are discussed and updated.

“We are delighted to accept the generous invitation of the Chairman and Board Members of the Russian Jewellers’ Guild to hold our congress in Moscow,” said Gaetano Cavalieri, President of CIBJO.  “Russia represents the length and breadth of our industry, with massive supplies of raw minerals, diamonds and coloured gemstones, a fast developing jewellery industry, and one of the world’s most exciting jewellery markets. The congress will provide an invaluable opportunity to explore the new frontiers it offers our business, and also to visit this fascinating city and country. ”

“The Russian jewellery community looks forward to the opportunity of welcoming our colleagues from around the world, and introducing them to our industry and our market” said Gagik Gevorkyan, Chairman of the Russian Jewellers’ Guild. “We will do our utmost to provide them with a perspective of our history, presence and exciting future, and we strongly suggest that they use the opportunity explore one of the world’s great cities.”

A dedicated website for CIBJO Congress 2014 will be launched in the coming few weeks, providing updated information about the event, and enabling online registration and the booking of hotel accommodation.

The Borsa Diamanti d’Italia, Italy’s only diamond exchange, has honoured the CIBJO President, Dr. Gaetano Cavalieri, bestowing upon him honorary life membership at a ceremony conducted at the bourses’ headquarters in Milan.

Founded in 1926, Borsa Diamanti d’Italia is one of the world’s older diamond exchanges, gathering under its roof diamond and coloured gemstone traders, as well as representatives of the Italian jewellery industry. It has been a member of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses since 1954.

“It is our privilege to be able to honour Dr. Cavalieri, who is both a friend and a role model for our industry,” said Moussa Sians, President of the Borsa Diamanti d’Italia. “The wellbeing of the diamond and gemstone business is greatly dependent upon the health and strength of the jewellery business, and consequently we strongly support the role played by CIBJO both in Italy and internationally. In awarding him with life membership we wish to express our appreciation for what he and CIBJO have done and will continue to do on behalf of our community.”

“It is my privilege to be recognised as a member of the Borsa Diamanti d’Italia, and I salute the diamond exchange and its members, personally and on CIBJO’s behalf,” said Dr. Cavalieri. “It is difficult to underestimate the importance of cooperation between the diamond and jewellery sectors, which ultimately are part of the same family.”

Photo (above): CIBJO President Gaetano Cavalieri (centre), being presented with honorary life membership in the Borsa Diamanti d’Italia by Moussa Sians (left), the bourse’s president, and Luigi Cosma, the bourse’s vice president.

Photo (below): CIBJO President Gaetano Cavalieri joined by members of the board of directors of the Borsa Diamanti d’Italia.