The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) recently added more names to its existing membership list, resulting in the number of members increasing from 148 at the end of 2009 to over 190 companies and trade associations across the global diamond and gold jewellery supply chain, reports say. The new additions include Danish Jewellers Association, the first Scandinavian trade association to join RJC; Union Française de la BJOP, the National Association of Goldsmiths, the British Jewellers Association, the American Gem Society , Jewelers of America and the World Gold Council, reports add.

The RJC was established to advance responsible practices throughout the gem and jewellery supply chain and establish consumer confidence in the trade. The growth in the RJC membership is indicative of a rising consciousness amongst the jewellery industry that responsible social, environmental and ethical business practices is vital to enhancing consumer and business to business confidence, reports say. It also indicates recognition of the RJC System, that by upholding the RJC Code of Practices and undergoing third-party auditing – RJC Members have a clear and universally understood mechanism to demonstrate responsible practices, reports say.

Outlining the objectives for 2010-2011, RJC intends to expand the certification scope through the addition of platinum, to work on the standards for gemmological laboratories and assayers, and to investigate the feasibility of chain of custody standards as a voluntary additional certification option for Members under the RJC System, reports say.