A panel of experts will be on hand at VicenzaOro’s ‘Winter’ later this month to discuss pending legislation on conflict metals in the United States and Europe.
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 organized by Fiera di Vicenza, Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), CIBJO-the World Jewellery Confederation, and Confindustria Federorafi.
The regulations are centred on minerals—including gold—from areas of conflict in Africa, such as Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and neighbouring countries.
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 have to file a report with the Security Exchange Commission (SEC) starting this year that traces their supply chain using a nationally or internationally recognized due diligence standard.
The rules will affect companies directly or indirectly supplying the U. S. market. Similar legislation currently in development in Europe may also affect importers and suppliers of jewellery to European Union countries.
The seminar will be held on Jan. 20 from 11 a.m to 12 p.m. in the Palladio Room at Fiera di Vicenza.
The panel includes
- Marieke van der Mijn, RJC’s standards co-ordinator;
- Michael Allchin, chief executive and assay master at the Birmingham Assay Office and the president of CIBJO’s Precious Metals Commission;
- Philip Olden, who is responsible for managing the development and implementation of responsible sourcing protocols for gold at U.S. retailer, Signet Jewelers;
- Maria Benedetta Francesconi of the Italian Ministry of Economic Development; and
- Rossella Ravagli, corporate social and environmental responsibility manager at Gucci in Italy, who also is a representative of Confindustria Federorafi.
The seminar will be led by Corrado Facco, managing director of Fiera di Vicenza and Gaetano Cavalieri, president of CIBJO.
