CIBJO Will Comply With EU Conflict-Minerals Rules, Says Cavalieri

The European Commission will issue guidelines by the end of this year on the identification of conflict and high-risk areas from which gold, tin, tantalum and tungsten are sourced.

World Jewellery Confederation CIBJO President Gaetano Cavalieri met with European Parliament President Antonio Tajani and discussed the recently approved Conflict Minerals Regulations approved by the EU legislature in Strasbourg, as well as issues related to the taxation on jewellery imported from the Europe Union.

The new regulations primarily affect all but the smallest importers of these metals and also refiners and smelters within and outside the EU. Not focussed on any specific geographic region, they mandate supply chain due diligence from all areas of risk, including a five-step framework for its conduct, which parallels the OECD Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas.

Cavalieri and Tajani met Arezzo, Italy, on May 7, on the opening day of the OroArezzo trade fair, which was inaugurated by the latter.

The EU Conflict Minerals Regulation was approved on March 16 by a massive majority in the European Parliament, and received the green light from the European Council on April 3. It will be phased in gradually, and become fully applicable on January 1, 2021, with the intention being that companies use the interim period to adapt to its requirements.

Cavalieri expressed CIBJO's intention to work together with the European Union. CIBJO, he said, is coordinating together with other representative bodies in the European jewellery industry, and they plan to liaise with the EU to ensure that the regulations are adopted successfully by all sectors of the trade. CIBJO, he stressed, is also committed to defending the integrity of all supply chains in the industry, including those associated with diamonds, coloured gemstones, pearls and coral.

Cavalieri also urged Tajani to work with the jewellery industry to ensure fair reciprocal tax and tariff rates when jewellery is imported and exported. It was agreed that these issues will be discussed further during an official meeting between the EU and a CIBJO-organised delegation.

https://www.gemkonnect.com/news/cibjo-will-comply-eu-conflict-minerals-rules-says-cavalieri