The Responsible Jewellery Council Certification System

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The Responsible Jewellery CouncilCertification
System
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Contents

• About the RJC
• Structure of the RJC System
• RJC System Implementation

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The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC)

• The RJC is an international not-for-profit
  organisation established in 2005.
• Our mission is to reinforce consumer confidence
  by advancing responsible ethical, human rights,
  social and environmental practices, through the
  diamond and gold jewellery supply chain.
• Our focus is on the development and
  implementation of the RJC System, a certification
  system using independent third party auditing to
  verify that Members of the RJC conform to the
  RJCs Code of Practices.

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Membership

• The RJC currently has 90 Members, large and
  small, from all parts of the diamond and gold
  jewellery supply chain, from mine to retail.
• The RJC seeks to be inclusive, not exclusive.
  Membership opportunity is open to all businesses
  and associations participating in the diamond and
  gold jewellery supply chain and / or engaged in
  activities that have a potential impact on
  consumer confidence in diamond or gold jewellery.

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Governance of the Council

• Officers of the Council
• Chairman  Matt Runci Jewelers of America
• Vice-Chairman  John Hall Rio Tinto Diamonds
• Honorary Secretary  Mark Jenkins Signet plc
• Honorary Treasurer  James Evans Lombe De Beers
  Group
• Committee Chairs
• Executive Committee  Matt Runci Jewelers of
  America
• Standards Committee Rob Headley Jewelers of
  America Mick Roche BHP Billiton
• Communications Committee  John Hall Rio Tinto
  Diamonds
• Membership Committee  Pamela Caillens Cartier
• Legal Committee  Mark Jenkins Signet plc
• People Committee  Geoff Field - British
  Jewellers Association
• Mining Committee Christine Charles - Newmont
• Finance Committee Ruth Batson American Gem
  Society
• Accreditation and Training Committee Gérard
  Satre The CHANEL Company Ltd
• Management Team
• The Executive functions and day-to-day
  management of the Council are carried out by the
  RJC Management Team under the direction of
  Michael Rae, CEO

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RJC System Elements

• Certification is third party confirmation that
  fulfilment of specific requirements has been
  credibly demonstrated

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Scope of Application

• The RJC System is unique, as it is based on
  independent auditing and applies to all parts of
  the diamond and gold jewellery supply chain, from
  mine to retail.
• Its scope covers all facilities which are owned
  or controlled by Members, and actively contribute
  to the diamond and/or gold jewellery supply
  chain.
• The system audits management systems and
  performance at a company and site level. The RJC
  System does not seek to certify individual
  jewellery components.

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The RJC System

• Under the RJC System, all Commercial Members of
  the Responsible Jewellery Council must be audited
  by accredited, third party auditors to verify
  that their performance and management systems
  conform with the Councils Code of Practices.
• Members who have been independently verified as
  conforming to the Code of Practices will become
  Certified Members of the Responsible Jewellery
  Council.

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A Community of Confidence

• Now more than ever, the industry must demonstrate
  responsible practices and protect its reputation.
• Certification under the RJC system will help
  Members to support their reputation and provide
  confidence to their suppliers and customers.
• The RJC System provides a transparent and
  practical mechanism for helping Members local
  operations and contractors develop the capacity
  to meet higher standards of ethical, social and
  environmental performance.
• Membership in the RJC also provides an
  opportunity to be a part of a forum for
  discussion and interaction with industry peers
  who share a commitment to advancing responsible
  business practices, and access to information on
  emerging business responsibility issues and
  challenges.

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Credibility and Efficiency

• RJC certification will be transparent and highly
  credible, as it is based on independent auditing.
  
• The standards and auditing requirements will be
  familiar to a large pool of competitive auditors,
  which will reduce costs.
• Following the RJC System will allow companies now
  operating their own social responsibility
  auditing programs to consolidate under one
  system, avoiding unnecessary duplication and
  expense, and streamlining work.
• The System Tools and Guidance documents and
  training programs provide additional standardised
  resources to assist Members and Auditors.

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RJC Certification

• Standard
• The RJC Code of Practices, plus additional
  components as required eg Mining, and associated
  guidance
• Auditor accreditation
• Accreditation of qualified and competent
  independent auditors who have been trained in the
  RJC system
• Verification
• Accredited auditors carry out a verification
  audit of a Members Self Assessment against the
  Code of Practices
• Certification decision
• Auditor makes formal recommendation for or
  against certification based on verification
  findings
• RJC grants certification based on auditors
  recommendation.

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Core System Documents
To advance responsible ethical, social and
environmental practices, which respect human
rights, throughout the diamond and gold jewellery
supply chain, from mine to retail.
1. The RJC Principles and Code of Practices,
under which Members are to be Certified.
2. Certification Handbook overview of the
System and requirements for achieving
certification. 3. RJC Standards Guidance
information and advice about the
Code.
4. RJC Assessment Manual instructions for
members and auditors. 5. RJC Assessment
Workbook forms and detailed questions
for assessments and audits.
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The Code of Practices

• The RJCs Code of Practices provides the
  standards on which Members are audited and
  certified.
• The RJC Principles and Code of Practices were
  developed by the Standards Committee with
  consultation among the RJCs stakeholders. They
  were adopted by the RJC in 2006. An update was
  carried out for the System release in 2008.
• The Code includes provisions on Business Ethics,
  Human Rights and Social Performance,
  Environmental Performance, and Management
  Systems.
• The provisions have been established through
  reference to national and international law,
  established international and industry standards,
  and sound business practice.

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Implementation Timelines

• The RJC System will be delivered in three main
  stages
• 1. Release of Core System Documents November
  2008.
• 2. Completion of the Mining Supplement Quarter
  2 2009.
• 3. Accreditation of Auditors Quarter 2 2009.
• The RJC System is expected to become fully
  operational in the
• 3rd Quarter of 2009, once independent auditors
  have been trained and
• audit firms accredited.
• Current RJC Members are required to be certified
  by December 2010.
• Companies that join the RJC after 31st December
  2008 will need to
• undergo independent verification within two years
  of becoming Members.

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Activities and Plans
Activity Target
Analysis of technical equivalence with overlapping certification standards Guidance released Q1 2009
Auditor Training and Accreditation First Accredited Auditors available by Q2 2009
Member Training Training roll-out from Q2 2009
Mining Supplement to the Code of Practices Incorporated by Q2 2009
Additional tools for small businesses and Facilities with multiple certification standards Ongoing release during 2009
Gem Laboratory Supplement to the Code of Practices Incorporated by 2010
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Auditor Accreditation

• An auditor accreditation system will be developed
  by the RJC during the first half of 2009.
• Prospective auditors will need to meet the
  selection criteria for competence and undertake
  additional training on the RJC system to become
  accredited.
• A list of Accredited Auditors will be publicly
  available.
• Auditors accredited under the requirements of
  ISO/IEC 17021, ISO/IEC Guide 65 (or equivalent)
  can register their interest in becoming
  accredited.
• Auditors will still be required to document their
  credentials in their Verification Reports and
  confirm that they have no conflict of interest in
  carrying out verification for that Member.

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Implementing the System What Members will need
to do

• Become familiar with the core system documents.
• Participate in RJC System training programs as
  they become available.
• Define their Certification Scope - those parts of
  their business which actively contribute to the
  diamond and/or gold jewellery supply chain.
• Conduct a Self Assessment of their organisation
  and facilities. This covers the same questions
  that will be addressed by the auditor.
• Address any non-conformances.
• Engage an Accredited Auditor.
• When ready, submit their Self Assessment to their
  chosen auditor/s and request a Verification
  Assessment.
• Prepare and implement a Corrective Action Plan to
  address any non-conformances.

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- What the Auditors will do

• Conduct a desktop review of the Members Self
  Assessment and related information.
• Define the Verification Scope
• Determine which provisions of the Code of
  Practices will be verified at which Facilities.
• Take into account risk and relevance.
• Conduct on-site review of the selected provisions
  at selected Facilities, as defined in the
  Verification Scope.
• Monitor the Members progress on implementing any
  Corrective Action Plans.
• Submit verification reports
• Detailed report to Member.
• Summary and recommendation to the RJC Management
  Team.

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- What the RJC will do

• The RJC Management Team grants certification to
  a Member based on the auditors recommendation.
• The Management Team will confirm the Member is in
  good standing and will review the auditors
  report to check
• Auditors are accredited and competent.
• All major non-conformances have been corrected,
  or are subject to a one year corrective plan
  verified by the auditor.
• Document the terms of the Certification (names,
  locations, dates etc.)
• Issue formal documentation, including a unique
  Certification identification, conditions for use
  of the RJC logo and related intellectual
  property
• Record the Members certification status on the
  RJC website.

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Non-conformances and corrective action

• Summary of obligations based on the outcomes of
  the Auditors Verification Assessment

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Check and balances

• Quality control
• Standardised forms for assessing and verifying
  conformance
• Guidance on standards and certification
• Formal training and accreditation of auditors
• Peer reviews of auditing quality
• Member training and support.
• Complaints mechanism
• RJC will investigate and resolve complaints
  relating to certification assessments and
  outcomes.
• Sanctions
• Disciplinary proceedings against Members or
  auditors will be triggered by actions or
  omissions that affect the integrity of the RJC
  system.

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The Responsible Jewellery Council

• The Responsible Jewellery Council is the trading
  name of the Council for Responsible Jewellery
  Practices Ltd.
• Council for Responsible Jewellery Practices Ltd,
  20-22 Bedford Row, London, WC1R 4JS, United
  Kingdom. The Council for Responsible Jewellery
  Practices Ltd is registered in England and Wales
  with company number 05449042.
• Website www.responsiblejewellery.com
• Email info_at_responsiblejewellery.com

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• Backup Slides

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Code of Practices 2008
Business Ethics Human Rights and Social Performance Environmental Performance Management Systems
1.1 Bribery and Facilitation Payments 2.1 Human Rights 3.1 Environmental Protection 4.1 Legal Compliance
1.2 Money Laundering and Finance of Terrorism 2.2 Child Labour and Young Persons 3.2 Hazardous Substances 4.2 Policy
1.3 Kimberley Process 2.3 Forced Labour 3.3 Waste and Emissions 4.3 Business Partners
1.4 Product Security 2.4 Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining 3.4 Use of Energy and Natural Resources
1.5 Product Integrity 2.5 Discrimination
2.6 Health and Safety
2.7 Discipline and Grievance Procedures
2.8 Working Hours
2.9 Remuneration
2.10 General Employment Terms
2.11 Community Development
2.12 Use of Security Personnel
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Founding Members of the RJC

• ABN AMRO
• BHP Billiton Diamonds
• Cartier (part of Richemont)
• World Jewellery Confederation
• Diamond Trading Company (part of De Beers Group)
• Diarough
• Jewelers of America
• National Association of Goldsmiths (UK)
• Newmont Mining
• Rio Tinto
• Rosy Blue
• Signet Group
• Tiffany Co.
• Zale Corporation.