What we stand for

Process for implementation

In addition to the Responsible Practices Framework, the Council will, during 2006, develop a Code of Practices Implementation Model by which the Principles and Code of Practices will be implemented throughout the Diamond and Gold jewellery supply chain and the Council’s Members will be held accountable to the standards that they define.

The Implementation Model is under development. However, Council Members agree that the following must be key elements of a credible system of implementation:

1. - The business ethics, human rights, social and environmental standards in the Code of Practices will be designed to enable successful, effective implementation in a business context.
2. - The Implementation Model should carefully balance the need to provide participating organisations with certainty about the required standards and consistency of application throughout the supply chain, whilst being sufficiently flexible to accommodate a variety of business models and encourage wide participation.
3. - The Implementation Model must be easy to understand, objective and transparent.
4. - Commercial Members of the Council will be required, as a condition of Council membership:
   1. - to undergo periodic independent Monitoring of performance against the Code of Practices;
   2. - to seek and implement Continuous Improvement in performance; and
   3. - to engage with Business Partners to promote the adoption of and conformance with the Code of Practices
5. - In order to provide credible results, the Implementation Model should include independent third party Monitoring of systems and performance against consistent agreed criteria as defined by the Code of Practices. The Monitoring system should be designed to provide reliable, consistent and objective results.
6. Monitoring should at all times be undertaken by professional independent Monitors, accredited by the Council, with ongoing performance review of appointed Monitors to be undertaken by the Council.
7. - To ensure consistency of enforcement of the Code of Practices, there should be a pre-agreed and defined approach to Monitoring, with tools provided to enable monitors to follow a consistent methodology and clear engagement parameters and obligations for all Monitoring activity.
8. - There should be one standard and comprehensive Monitoring process applicable to all businesses. The actual implementation of this model and the Code of Practices should allow for adjustments to be made depending on the level of risk and the priority issues for the industry Sector concerned. In addition, it should be sensitive to the local and business context (size and type of business, for example).
9. - Due to the complexities of the diamond and gold supply chains, a workable Implementation Model will be based on Member business (specific entities and operations) conformance to the Code of Practice rather than a product certification or chain of custody approach.
10. - In order to promote Continuous Improvement, it is envisaged that there should not be a simple pass / fail Monitoring model, but a graded scale of conformance.
11. - The Implementation Model should include sanctions for unremediated, repeated or deliberate non-conformance with the provisions of the Code of Practices.
12. - There must be an independent dispute resolution process.
13. - Members should maximise the opportunity to apply the Code of Practices amongst their Business Partners in order to promote responsible business practices.
14. - Members may require their Business Partners to reach a specified conformance level and/or may impose additional requirements at their own discretion, according to their individual business model and risk management strategy.
15. - A minimum level of acceptable performance for Members should be defined through an appropriate, credible consultation process. The minimum level may progress over time.
16. - Members themselves may seek to demonstrate superior performance, above and beyond the baseline set for the entire supply chain. The Council should encourage such endeavours in order to provide incentive for further Continuous Improvement within the industry.
17. - Members should report annually to the Council on their progress in conformance with the Principles and Code of Practices.
18. - There should be a phased approach to implementation with defined key milestones. However, once non-conformances have been identified, Members will be expected to move quickly to address these issues, within defined and agreed timeframes.

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