RJC CoP 2019 is the revision of the Responsible Jewellery Council's Code of Practices published at the end of that year, succeeding the 2013 revision. The revision was developed through a multi-year consultation involving member companies, civil-society organisations, technical specialists, and international standard-setters. It strengthened provisions on human-rights due diligence, expanded responsible-sourcing requirements across the full material scope, and aligned the Code with developments in OECD due-diligence guidance and the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Key changes from 2013

The 2019 revision strengthened the Code's human-rights provisions, requiring members to conduct documented due diligence on their operations and supply chains in line with the UN Guiding Principles. The provisions on responsible sourcing were expanded to cover not only conflict-affected and high-risk areas but also broader categories of human-rights and environmental risk. Provenance documentation became a more prominent obligation, with members required to maintain records sufficient to support material-origin claims where made. The provisions on environmental management were refined to address energy, water, waste, hazardous substances, and biodiversity in greater detail.

Material scope

The 2019 Code applies to gold, silver, platinum-group metals, diamonds, and coloured gemstones. Coverage of coloured gemstones was strengthened relative to earlier revisions, reflecting the Council's recognition that the coloured-stone supply chain — fragmented across many small operators — required clearer standards than had been articulated previously. The revision drew on guidance from the International Coloured Gemstone Association, the AGTA, and CIBJO in framing its coloured-stone provisions.

Implementation cycle

Members certified under the 2013 Code were given a transition period to align with the 2019 requirements, with all certifications operating to the 2019 standard following the transition. The transition included guidance documents, member workshops, and updated audit protocols for the accredited audit firms. Today, all RJC CoP certifications reference the 2019 revision; certificates issued under earlier revisions are no longer current.

Alignment with international frameworks

A notable feature of the 2019 revision is its explicit alignment with several international frameworks. The OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas is referenced throughout the responsible-sourcing provisions. The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights inform the human-rights due-diligence requirements. The International Labour Organization's core conventions inform the labour provisions. The cross-references allow members to leverage their RJC audit work in regulatory filings and in counterparty due-diligence responses.

In the trade

Buyers reviewing an RJC certificate should verify that it references the 2019 Code, that the issue date is within the three-year validity window, and that any annual surveillance reviews have been completed. The next revision, when issued, will follow the same transition pattern, and certificates referencing the current 2019 revision will remain valid through their stated expiry dates.

Further reading

• Responsible Jewellery Council — Code of Practices 2019
• CIBJO — supply-chain frameworks
• ICA — coloured-gemstone responsible sourcing