Agreement reached on Be-treated-corundum disclosure

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Agreement reached on Be-treated-corundum disclosure

March 15, 2007

Cape Town, South Africa—Representatives of the Thai Gem and Jewelry Traders Association (TGJTA) and the Japan Jewelry Association (JJA) announced an agreement between the organizations on the disclosure of Beryllium (Be) treatments in corundum, at the 2007 CIBJO Congress, located here.

The memorandum of understanding, or MOU, was drafted a few weeks ago, during bilateral meetings in Bangkok, Thailand.

Also involved with the memorandum were the Thai Department of Export Promotion of the Thai Ministry of Commerce, the Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand and the Chantaburi Gem and Jewelry Traders Association.

The agreement states, among other things, that the exporter of loose corundum must disclose the treatment on the invoice for export of the item using the following language: Non-Be-Treated, Be Treated and Unconfirmed Be Treatment. The JJA requested the same rules apply to jewelry set with corundum.

In addition, it was agreed that compliance of these rules in Thailand be enforced under the TGTJA rules, while the JJA confirmed that its members must follow the same disclosure for domestic transactions. The Japanese association will deal with cases of non-compliance.

Both groups decided to establish similar disclosure standards for Be identification with support from gem labs in Japan and Thailand. The associations also asked their local gem labs to conduct joint research as a way to strengthen the disclosure process.

If corundum is exported to Japan without proper disclosure and tested to contain Be, the Thai exporter must accept the return of the stone and make a full refund to the buyer. The TGJTA requested, however, that all countries that export corundum to Japan apply the disclosure procedure. The JJA said it would give the issue its highest priority.

The TGJTA also proposed making information about Be treatment available further down the supply chain, to retailers and consumers, a suggestion welcomed by the JJA.

Finally, the TGJTA proposed the creation of a "Cluster Blue Sapphire Group" that would export only non-Be-treated corundum. The JJA would distribute a list of member companies to its members once the group is formed.

"As members of CIBJO, our organizations share their commitments to the disclosure procedures as defined in the CIBJO Blue Books. Therefore, it was with this trust and perception that we were able to find common ground for constructing this memorandum of understanding," a spokesman for the Thai and Japanese delegation stated.

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