Seminar at VICENZAORO Winter show to discuss conflict mineral legislations

"Conflict mineral legislation in the Europe and the United States: How it impacts on both the domestic and export jewellery business," is a seminar intended to throw light upon the regulations on conflict minerals. It is being organised by Fiera di Vicenza, the Responsible Jewellery Council, CIBJO-the World Jewellery Confederation, and Confindustria Federorafi on January 20, during the VICENZAORO Winter show.

The subject of these regulations has taken attention in the gem and jewellery industry, for when they come into effect in 2014m, they would influence businesses 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 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 are now required 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 if their supply chain includes gold sourced from the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring countries. Also, 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 like the OECD Due Diligence Guidance and the U.S. conflict minerals legislation. A formal regulatory proposal is expected to 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.