Pforzheim: The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), the global standards-setting and certification organisation for the entire jewellery supply chain, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Pforzheim, Germany. During the meeting the RJC membership elected Mr Didier Theraulaz (Piaget) as its new Vice-chairman of the Board and re- elected Ms. Feriel Zerouki (De Beers Group) as Honorary Treasurer.

RJC members also elected to the Board Peter Karakchiev (Public Joint Stock Company ALROSA), Stephen Lussier (De Beers Group), Alok Kumbhat (Jewelex India Pvt Ltd, Diamond division), Philipp Reisert (C. Hafner GmbH + Co. KG), Larry Drummond (Metalor Technologies SA), Thomas Puzone (Vacheron Constantin), Mark Hanna (Richline Group, Inc.), Eric de Rocquigny (Van Cleef & Arpels), Boaz Lev (Gem Lab Services), Marijke Achten (HRD Antwerp) and Michaël Geelhand de Merxemn (Antwerp World Diamond Centre) representing their respective fora.

Following the AGM, RJC hosted an open discussion with a selection of panelists from the jewellery pipeline. The panel discussion focused on the new EU Regulation on Conflict Minerals with panelists sharing insight into what the regulation and implementation of increased due diligence will mean to the RJC and its members.

The RJC also launched its 2017 Annual Progress Report at the event. The Report echoes the RJC’s 2016 successes and accomplishments, further demonstrating it’s continuing achievements across membership growth, certification and standards development.