Milan: A blue-ribbon panel of experts will be brought together in Vicenza on September 24, to present to the jewellery industry the likely impact of recently approved Regulation (EU) 2017/821, which will regulate minerals from conflict areas into the European Union, and to discuss strategies that companies can employ to comply with its provisions. The seminar is being organised by the Italian Exhibition Group and CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation, and will take place on the second day of the September VICENZAORO jewellery trade fair at Fiera di Vicenza.

The new EU regulations will impose due diligence obligations upon companies importing gold, tin, tantalum or tungsten from conflict-affected and high-risk areas. It becomes the third major regulatory framework impacting the jewellery industry, joining the Kimberley Process, which focuses on the rough diamond trade, and the Section 1508 of the United States’ Dodd Frank Act, which also regulates the gold and 3Ts.

Entitled, “The impact on jewellery industry of new EU conflict minerals legislation and strategies for dealing with its requirements,” the seminar will take place 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM, in Hall 8.0 – Conference Room – Sala 8.0.6, of Fiera di Vicenza. It will be conducted in English and a simultaneous translation will be available in Italian.

The moderator of the seminar is Philip Olden, a consultant to Signet Jewellers and the former Managing Director of the World Gold Council.

Panel members include:

• Marten Westrup, Coordinator Energy and Raw Materials at the European Commission, DG Trade.
• Hannah Koep-Andrieu, Policy Adviser-Extractives, in the Responsible Business Conduct division at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
• France Capon, Secretary General of the European Precious Metals Federation (EPMF).
• Andrew Bone, CEO of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC).
• Sakhila Mirza, Executive Board Director and General Counsel of the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA).
• Stephane Fischler, Chairman of the World Diamond Council (WDC).
• Francesca Angeloni, Business Development Manager Europe Jewellery and Watch Industry in the Consumer & Retail Services division of UL.
• Fabiana Di Lorenzo, Due Diligence Manager at Levin Sources, which formerly was known as Estelle Levin Limited.

The seminar is the latest in a series of educational events organized by CIBJO and the Italian Exhibition Group, which is part of their joint programme, endorsed by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), to support Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainability in the jewellery sector.