Glossary

Definitions for words used within our documents

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RJC is the global membership and standards body for responsible jewellery throughout the entire supply chain – from mine to retail. Our ‘Code of Practice’ references key development frameworks, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, ILO Principles and UN Global Compact and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Applicable Law	The relevant national and/or state and/or local laws of the country or countries in which the member operates.
Applicant	A Conformity Assessment Body applying for RJC Accreditation for the firm and/or individual auditors.
Applicant Company	“Applicant Company”: means the company formally applying to join the RJC.
Appraisal report	An appraisal report includes a documented opinion of the monetary value of a jewellery item or gemstone. The opinion is based on many factors, including the identity, composition, qualities, the economic conditions of the trade area where the stone is sold, and, in the case of coloured gemstones, geographical place of origin.
Appraising	Appraising is generating an opinion of monetary value based on the identity, composition and qualities of a jewellery item or gemstone and a knowledge of the trading area where the stone is being sold.
Apprentices	Apprentices are workers who are doing vocational training in the workplace for a fixed period. The fundamental aim of an apprenticeship is to learn a trade or acquire a skill. Apprentices do not participate fully in the production process of the unit because they work under an apprentice’s contract that stipulates this, or because the fact that they are undertaking vocational training impinges significantly on their productivity.
APSCA	Association of Professional Social Compliance Auditors
Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM)	Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) refers to formal or informal operations by individuals, groups, families or cooperatives that can involve up to hundreds of thousands of miners. ASM usually uses little capital and a lot of labour and is carried out with minimal or no mechanisation (although it can involve small and fully mechanised operations). The exact definition of ‘artisanal’ and ‘small’ mining may be stated by national legislation and categorised according to, for instance, a mining organisation’s volume of production of ore or mineral, the size of its concession or the level of mechanisation.
Associated facilities	Facilities that are not funded as part of the project and that would not have been constructed or expanded if the project did not exist and without which the project would not be viable. Associated facilities may include railways, roads, captive power plants or transmission lines, pipelines, utilities, warehouses, and logistics terminals.
Audit programme manager	Personnel allocated by the CAB who manages the RJC scheme, conducts technical review of audit reports and acts as the main point of contact between the CAB and the RJC.
Audit Team	One or more RJC Accredited Individual Auditors conducting an RJC Audit, supported if needed by one or more Topic Experts.
Audited financial statements	Audited financial statements are financial statements that a financial auditor has reviewed and found to be presented fairly and, in all material respects, in line with the applicable financial reporting framework. The financial auditor of these financial statements is required to: • get an understanding of the entity’s internal control and assess fraud risk; • corroborate the disclosures in the financial statements with evidence; and • submit a written opinion on whether the statements are fairly presented and adhere to the applicable financial reporting framework.

Beneficial owner	Person(s) who owns or controls a counterparty and/or the person on whose behalf a transaction is being done. It also incorporates those persons who exercise ultimate effective control over a legal person or arrangement.
Best endeavours	Acting honestly, reasonably and with a positive effort to perform the relevant obligation.
Biodiversity	Biodiversity is the variability among living organisms from all sources including, among others, terrestrial, marine and aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems. Biodiversity encompasses all living things, from human beings to micro-organisms and the habitats in which they live. It also includes the genetic material within individual species.
Bonded labour	Labour that happens when a worker pledges their labour (or that of their family members) as security to repay a loan or wage advance from an employer or labour recruiter, where the terms of repayment are not clear and the loan provider does not intend to ever declare the loan repaid. Bonded labour can trap workers in debt to a particular employer for years, sometimes even passing from generation to generation. Also known as debt bondage. See Forced labour definition.
Bribery	Offering, promising, giving, accepting or soliciting of an advantage as an inducement for an action which is illegal, unethical or a breach of trust. Inducements can take the form of gifts, loans, fees, rewards or other advantages (taxes, services, donations, favours etc.).
Bullion	Bullion is gold, silver or PGM in the form of coins, ingots or bars.
Bullion banks	Bullion banks work as a wholesale suppliers, dealing in large quantities of refined gold or silver.
Business confidentiality	The process and act of keeping certain member-related confidential information private and away from public knowledge. Confidential information may includes any nonpublic information that could be harmful to a company or give competitors an advantage. • For COP 7.2: Business confidentiality and other competitive or security concerns means, without prejudice to subsequent evolving interpretation: price information; supplier identities and relationships (however the identity of the refiner and the local exporter located in red flag locations should always be disclosed except in cases of disengagement); transportation routes; and the identity of information sources and whistle-blowers located in conflict-affected and high-risk areas, where revealing the identity of such sources would threaten their safety. All information will be disclosed to any institutionalised mechanism, regional or global, once in place with the mandate to collect and process information on minerals from conflict-affected and high-risk areas. • For COP 14: Business confidentiality cannot be used by members as an excuse to not disclose information and evidence about claims that is not harmful to a company or give competitors an advantage.
Business partner	An organisation, business or other type of entity with which an RJC member has a direct business relationship. This relationship can involve a contractual agreement to buy or sell any product or service related to the materials in scope of the COP. Business partners include all contractors, agents, customers, suppliers, local and international intermediaries or traders, and joint venture partners. They also include service providers such as security services and recruitment agencies, or any other third parties subject to your due diligence through COP requirements or applicable law. Business partners do not include end consumers buying products for personal use. See definition of a Significant Business Partner.
Business relationship	Broadly encompasses relationships with business partners, entities in its value chain and any other state or non-state entity directly linked to its business operations, products or services. This includes entities in its supply chains beyond the first tier and both direct and indirect business relationships.

CAB Audit Support Personnel	Non-auditing personnel affiliated to an RJC Accredited CAB, such as the RJC audit programme manager, managing audit engagements, RJC contact, liaison, or other administrative activities to support RJC Audits.
Calibration (of personnel)	The process of ensuring a persons perception or actual performance corresponds with the expected performance. For auditors and other personnel such as RJC assurance personnel, this involves the exchange knowledge and learning from each other to achieve more consistent interpretation of the RJC standards.
Certification scope	“RJC Certification Scope”: means any “company” that mines, sells, manufactures or buys materials within scope of the RJC Code of Practices (COP). Currently this encompasses Diamonds, Emeralds, Gold, “PGMs”, Rubies, Sapphires, or Silver.
Certification scope	This must include all entities, facilities and business activities under the RJC member’s control that actively contribute to the gold, silver, PGM, diamonds, coloured gemstones or jewellery supply chain.
Certification scope	The RJC certification scope refers to the extent of a member’s business to which the relevant RJC standard (COP or COC Standard) will apply. If you are a commercial member of the RJC, your certification scope must include all the entities and facilities that you own or control and that contribute to the gold, silver, PGM, diamonds and coloured gemstones jewellery supply chain (see box ‘Sectors that fall within the COP certification scope’).
Certification scope	The RJC certification scope refers to the extent of a member’s business (process(es), service(s), or product(s) to which the relevant RJC standard(s) apply and for which the certification is granted based on verified compliance.
RJC Certification Scope	RJC Certification Scope”: means any “company” that mines, sells, manufactures or buys materials within scope of the RJC Code of Practices (COP). Currently this encompasses Diamonds, Emeralds, Gold, “PGMs”, Rubies, Sapphires, or Silver.
Member Scope	For an RJC commercial member of the RJC, this includes all the entities and facilities that the member owns or controls and covers mining, selling, manufacturing or buying RJC scope materials and other activities that contribute to the jewellery and watch making supply chain. (See RJC scope materials
Certification scope	This refers to the extent of a member’s business (process(es), service(s), or product(s) to which the relevant RJC standard(s) apply and for which the certification is granted based on compliance evaluation. (See RJC Audit and RJC Certification).
Child	Anyone under the age of 18, as defined by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Child labour	Work done by children that deprives them of their childhood, potential and dignity, and that is harmful to their social, physical and mental development. In particular, it refers to work that: • is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children; • deprives them of the opportunity to attend school; • obliges them to leave school prematurely; or • requires them to attempt to combine school attendance with excessively long and heavy work.
Circular economy	A system that is restorative or regenerative by intention and design. It replaces the end-of-life concept with restoration, shifts towards the use of renewable energy, eliminates the use of toxic chemicals, which impair reuse and return to the biosphere, and aims for the elimination of waste through the superior design of materials, products, systems and business models.
Claims	A statement, symbol or graphic that declares one or more aspects of a Members product, process, service or organisation in relation to the RJC Standards. Claims include statements that are made from business to business, or business to the public or end consumer about: – RJC membership – RJC certification – Provenance claims about or products containing RJC scope materials or products containing RJC scope materials – Product claims or marketing claims – Sustainability claims about the member or their products and services in relation to the scope of the RIC standards .
Client agreement	Service and conditions between a business issuing grading, research, analysis or appraisal reports, including a gemmological laboratory and a client that sets out the obligations, undertakings and duties of the business or laboratory, the relationship of the business or laboratory to the seller of a product that is the subject of the agreement, as well as any limitations on the liability of the issuer of the report in connection with the information provided in the report.
COC certification stamp	Markings—through words or symbols—applied to a product to show it is made of COC material.
Certified member	A member of the RJC who has been audited and certified against an RJC Standard(s). At a minimum, a member must be certified against the RJC COP standard and the RJC LGMS Standard (if relevant
COC materials	Material (gold, silver or PGM) with an eligible material declaration from a COC certified entity that is transferred in accordance with the RJC COC Standard. COC material may be mined, recycled, or legacied. (See Eligible material). Add something that it includes raw materials, components and finished products
COC transfer document	A COC transfer document is issued by a COC certified entity in accordance with the RJC COC Standard, and includes all the information required to pass COC material on to another entity. This confirms the material included in the shipment has entered the chain of custody and is traceable to an eligible material declaration but does not imply any product conformity or product certification. The term transfer document encompasses both the physical document and any digital record of the required data that accompanies the transfer of material.
Collective bargaining	The process of negotiation between organisations of workers and their employers (or a single employer). It involves joint decision-making and so is distinct from other forms of governance such as government regulation, individual contracts or the unilateral decisions of employers.
Collective bargaining agreement	A legally enforceable, written contract between a company’s management and its employees, represented by a trade union or equivalent. Collective bargaining agreements must comply with applicable law. Some of the subjects of collective bargaining, as identified by the International Labour Organization (ILO) include wages, benefits and allowances, working time, annual leave, selection criteria in case of redundancy, the coverage of collective agreement and granting of trade union facilities.
Collective dismissals	Multiple dismissals that are a result of an economic, technical, or organisational reason; or other reasons that are not related to performance or other personal reasons.
Coloured gemstone	A coloured gemstone forms in nature. Each variety has unique chemical, optical and physical properties.
Coloured gemtsone analysis report	A report identifying the species and variety of a coloured gemstone. The analysis states whether the stone is natural or synthetic and provides other data to describe its shape, cut, weight, measurements, colour, transparency and major characteristics. It can also include the geographical place of origin.
Community	A group of people that share the same geographical space or have a common interest that brings them together. Community members generally share some beliefs and values. For the purposes of this guidance, a community is any group of people that may experience positive or negative effects from an RJC member’s operations.
Community development	A way of working, underpinned by a commitment to equity, social justice, participation and empowerment, that enables people to identify common concerns and that supports them in taking action related to them.
Company	Any business entity officially registered by a “recognised government” which may be a sole trader, a partnership, a private company limited by shares [LTD], a private unlimited company [UNLTD], a limited liability partnership [LLP], a public limited company [PLC], a private company limited by guarantee or a community interest company. It includes both for-profit and not-for-profit business entities. Depending on jurisdiction, this will include LLCs, S-corps, C-corps, non-profit corporations, sole proprietorships or their equivalent.
Competent professional	A member of staff or external consultant with relevant education, knowledge, proven experience, necessary skills and training to carry out the required work. Competent professionals would be expected to follow scientifically robust methodologies that would withstand scrutiny by other professionals. Other equivalent terms used may include: competent person, qualified person, qualified professional. For independent reviews competent professionals must not be in-house staff.
Compliance	A state of being in accordance with established guidelines, specifications or legislation.
Composite coloured gemstone	A gemstone created by bonding or blending together two or more different materials. The components may be natural, synthetic or artificial. Composite gemstones can be made by fusing two or more parts together in parallel planes, or by using chemical leeching to remove extraneous materials, followed by immersion in some type of glass or filler to fill in the cracks.
Conflict diamonds	Rough diamonds used by rebel movements or their allies to finance conflict aimed at undermining legitimate governments, as described by the UN Security Council (UNSC) and as recognised by the UN General Assembly (through resolution A/RES/55/56).
Conflict-free material	Conflict-free material is material that is confirmed through due diligence investigation not to have caused adverse impacts related to CAHRAs. This includes serious abuses related to human rights, conflict and labour; direct or indirect support to non-state armed groups or public and private security forces illegally controlling mines; or bribery and fraudulent misrepresentation of the origin of precious metals.
Conflict of interest	A circumstance in which a person or entity assumes a duty or has an obligation to more than one person or organisation, and therefore may not be able to act in the interests of either in an independent and neutral fashion. Conflicts of interest must be disclosed to the parties affected, and once disclosure is made, can be waived by the affected parties or be the basis of declining to go on with the transaction.
Conflict-affected and high-risk areas (CAHRAs)	Areas identified by the presence of armed conflict, widespread violence (including violence generated by criminal networks) or other risks of serious and widespread harm to people. Armed conflict may take a variety of forms, such as conflict of international or non-international character, which may involve two or more states, or may consist of wars of liberation or insurgencies, civil wars, etc. High-risk areas may include areas of political instability or repression, institutional weakness, insecurity, collapse of civil infrastructure and widespread violence. Such areas are often characterised by widespread human rights abuses and violations of national or international law. A CAHRA can be a region, a country, an area within a country or an area that crosses one or more national boundaries. Operations are not necessarily complicit in conflict if they are located in a CAHRA.
Conformity Assessment Body (CAB)	An independent third-party conformity assessment body who is accredited to ISO 17021 by an Accreditation.
Conservation values	Ecological, biological, geomorphological, geological, cultural, spiritual, scenic or amenity values, features, processes or attributes that are being conserved.
Consultancy	Participation in designing, implementing, operating or maintaining management systems, products or services as they relate to a Member’s RJC Certification Scope.
Control (by a Member)	1. Direct or indirect majority ownership or Control (alone or pursuant to an agreement with other entities) of 50% or more of the voting rights (or equivalent) of the Controlled business or facility or operation; and/or 2. Direct or indirect (including pursuant to an agreement with other entities) power to remove, nominate or appoint at least half of the members of the Board of the directors or management (or equivalent of the Controlled business or facility or operation); and/or 3. Day-to-day executive management of the Controlled Business or facility or operation such as by setting workplace standards and enforcing their application; or 4. Any legally recognised concept of ‘Control’ analogous to those described in (1) to (2) above in a relevant jurisdiction. Although the above defines ‘Control’ in a corporate context, the same principles will apply by analogy to other organisational arrangements, including franchisees, licensees and Control by an individual or a family, where applicable.

Corruption	The abuse of entrusted power for private gain. Corruption can be classified as grand, petty and political, depending on the amounts of money lost and the sector where it occurs. (Adapted from Transparency International, The Anti-Corruption Plain Language Guide, 2009) Corruption includes practices such as Bribery, Facilitation Payments, fraud, Extortion, collusion, and money laundering. Corruption can also include the offer or receipt of gifts, loans, fees, rewards, or other advantages as an inducement to do something that is dishonest, illegal, or represents a breach of trust. It can also include practices such as embezzlement, trading in influence, abuse of function, illicit enrichment, concealment, and obstructing justice.
Counterparty	Any supplier or customer of gold, silver, PGM, diamonds, coloured gemstones or jewellery products containing these materials with whom you do business.
CQI	Chartered Quality Institute
Critical cultural heritage	Consists of: (i) the internationally recognized heritage of communities who use, or have used within living memory the cultural heritage for long-standing cultural purposes, (ii) legally protected cultural heritage areas, including those proposed by host governments for such designation; or (iii) natural areas with cultural and/or spiritual value such as sacred groves, sacred bodies of water and waterways, sacred trees, and sacred rocks.
Critical habitats	Areas with high biodiversity value, including habitats of significant importance to critically endangered or endangered species or endemic or restricted-range species, as well as habitats supporting globally significant concentrations of migratory or congregatory species, highly threatened or unique ecosystems and areas associated with key evolutionary processes.
Cultural heritage	Refers to (i) tangible forms of cultural heritage, such as tangible moveable or immovable objects, property, sites, structures, or groups of structures, having archaeological (prehistoric), paleontological, historical, cultural, artistic, and religious values; (ii) unique natural features or tangible objects that embody cultural values, such as sacred groves, rocks, lakes, and waterfalls; and (iii) certain instances of intangible forms of culture that are proposed to be used for commercial purposes, such as cultural knowledge, innovations, and practices of communities embodying traditional lifestyles.

Debt bondage	See Bonded labour.
Deductions	The financial amount withheld from an employee’s earnings. Common legally required deductions include taxes, health care and social insurance. Deductions may also include lawful garnishments, where employers are required to deduct funds from employees’ wages, for example as a result of a court order to pay off a debt.
Diamond	A precious stone consisting of a clear and colourless crystalline form of pure carbon, the hardest naturally occurring substance. A diamond is a mineral that has been formed completely by nature without human interference during its formation.
Diamond grading	An activity to classify a diamond’s characteristics, in terms of cut, colour, clarity and carat weight or other unique characteristics. Diamond grading can be carried out in independent laboratories or in-house. While a diamond can be weighed accurately and given an exact carat value (for example, 1.17cts), the cut, colour and clarity of a diamond are classified and can be reported within a range. For example, an E colour diamond is one that is better than F but worse than D; similarly, a VS1 clarity is better than VS2 but worse than VVS2. Standards and methodologies for diamond grading, and information contained in grading reports or certificates, vary depending on the laboratory.
Diamond grading report	A grading report is a report on the grading of a diamond’s physical characteristics (including treatments to alter the appearance of the diamond) expressed using the laboratory’s grading system, usually in terms of cut, colour, clarity, and carat weight. If an opinion on monetary value is included in a diamond grading report, it is also considered to be an appraisal report.
Diamond grading system	A procedural mechanism and process for the performance, conduct, execution and declaration of assigned quality designations, or grades pertaining to a product examined by a gemmological laboratory. A grading system is communicated as a relative scale based on the evaluation of gemmological quality via the comparison of similar, or like properties across the range for a given material. The grading system should be disclosed and explained on the report or on a readily available resource like a webpage if there is limited room on the report.
Diamond simulant	A product that imitates the appearance of a diamond but does not have the same physical and chemical properties.
Disciplinary procedure	A set way for dealing with disciplinary issues. They make sure that a company’s standards of conduct and performance at work are followed. They also provide a fair and humane method of dealing with workers who fail to meet these standards.
Disclaimer of Liability	A clause in a report or client agreement that limits the responsibility for opinions rendered by the issuer. Such disclaimers can also specify limitations of damages the issuer will be obligated to provide in the case of a dispute.
Disclosures	In the context of gemmological reports, disclosures are information included in a grading report made in an easily accessible and conspicuous manner to explain in plain language all treatments, and the conditions under which products examined were evaluated, the purpose for which the report has been generated, the limits on the liability of the issuer of the report, and any other relevant information (including information regarding potential or actual conflict of interest (or lack thereof).
Discrimination	Where people are treated differently, or given unequal opportunities, because of their race, ethnicity, caste, national origin, religion, disability, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, union membership, political affiliation, marital or pregnancy status, physical appearance, HIV status, age or any other personal characteristic. Discrimination can be direct or indirect, and it does not have to be intentional. Practices that appear neutral but result in unequal treatment of people with certain characteristics are considered indirect discrimination. Harassment (behaviour that creates an intimidating, hostile or humiliating working environment) is also considered discrimination when it is based on discriminatory grounds.
Due diligence	Due diligence is an on-going, proactive and reactive process through which companies can ensure that they respect human rights and do not contribute to conflict. Due diligence can also help companies ensure they observe international law and comply with domestic law.

Ecosystem services	The benefits people get from ecosystems. They include provisioning services, such as food and water; regulating services, such as regulation of floods, drought, land degradation, and disease; supporting services, such as soil formation and nutrient cycling; and cultural services, such as recreational, spiritual, religious and other non-material benefits.
Effective waste management	A commitment to minimise waste, supported by suitable measures for handling, storing, transporting and disposing of different wastes.
An emergency	An abnormal occurrence that poses a threat to the safety or health of employees, contractors, visitors, customers or local communities, or that can damage assets or the environment.
Eligible material	Gold, silver or PGM that meets the COC eligibility criteria.
Eligible Legacied (grandfathered) material	Refined gold/PGM with a verifiable date of production prior to 1 January 2012. Refined silver with a verifiable date of production prior to 1 January 2018. (Also known as eligible grandfathered material)
Eligible material declaration	Declarations that show the recipient that the material in question meets the eligibility criteria of the RJC COC Standard. They initiate a COC and are made in a COC transfer document.
Eligible mined material	Conflict-free material produced through responsible mining practices, as defined in the COC Standard.
Eligible recycled material	Material sourced by a COC certified entity from recyclable materials screened according to the COC Standard’s requirements.
Employee	An employee is an individual who has entered into, or works under, a contract of employment, service or apprenticeship. This includes permanent, temporary, full-time, part-time, casual, homework and seasonal employees at any level. Under the COP, employees include both directly employed workers and indirectly employed workers who regularly work at members’ sites: • Directly employed workers have employment contracts with the RJC member. The RJC member is responsible for paying taxes and social security contributions, and the contractual relationship is subject to national legislation. • Indirectly employed workers have employment contracts with a third party, such as a labour agent, labour provider or a subcontractor. Examples include subcontracted personnel such as security guards, housekeeping and canteen staff, as well as temporary or seasonal workers.
Employment relationships	The legal link between employers and employees that exist when a person performs work or provides services under certain conditions in return for remuneration.
Enhanced KYC
Entity	A business or similar which operates one or more facilities where there is ownership or control of that entity by the member. • For the COC Standard, an entity is that part of the member’s business responsible for implementing the COC Stadards. • For certification, an entity can constitute part or whole of the member.
Environment	The environment is the surroundings in which a company’s facility operates, including air, water, land, natural resources, flora, fauna, habitats, ecosystems, biodiversity, humans (including human artefacts, culturally significant sites and social aspects) and their interrelationships. The environment in this context extends from within a company’s area of operation to the global system.
Environmental management	Environmental management is the process of regulating and administering environment-related risks and issues. It may involve directly managing the environment itself, but is more often about controlling the organisation’s activities, products and services that interact with the natural environment to minimise adverse impacts and, where possible, have a positive impact.
ESIA	Environmental and social impact assessment
An Estate	Refers to assets owned by an individual or a family.
Expropriation	Expropriation is the action by the state or an authority of taking property from its owner for public use or benefit.
The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI)	The global standard to promote the open and accountable management of oil, gas and mineral resources.

Facilitation Payment	A small bribe, also called a ‘facilitating’, ‘speed’ or ‘grease’ payment; made to secure or expedite the performance of a routine or necessary action to which the payer has legal or other entitlement.
Facility	A facility is a site or premises that is: • Owned by a member or under a member’s control; and • Actively contributes to the precious metals, diamonds and coloured gemstones jewellery and watch supply chain.
Financial accounting	Financial accounting involves the structured presentation of financial information, typically in four basic financial statements—balance sheet, income statement, earnings statement and cash flow statement—and notes to these.
Financing of terrorism	The financing of terrorism is any kind of financial support to those who attempt to encourage, plan or engage in terrorism. The meaning of terrorism is not universally accepted due to significant political, religious and national implications that differ from country to country.
Finance of terrorism	Any kind of financial support to those who encourage, plan or engage in terrorism.
Finished jewellery products	Finished jewellery products include any jewellery that is in its final form and sold to consumers for use. They include, but are not limited to, bracelets, rings, necklaces, earrings and watches, and they can be made of many components.
Forced labour	Forced labour includes any work or service that is exacted from someone under the menace of a penalty, and which the person has not voluntarily agreed to do. There are four key types of forced labour:
Forced eviction	The permanent or temporary removal against their will of individuals, families and/or communities from the homes and/or land which they occupy, without the provision of, and access to, appropriate forms of legal or other protection.
Free, prior and informed consent (FPIC)	There is no universally accepted definition of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC). Within the COP, FPIC refers to a set of mutual engagement processes between RJC members and indigenous peoples that are culturally appropriate, are established through good faith negotiation and go beyond consultation to include clear agreement by affected indigenous peoples. FPIC does not necessarily require unanimity and may be achieved even when individuals or groups within the community explicitly disagree. Through these processes, indigenous peoples are: • able to freely make decisions without coercion, intimidation or manipulation; • given enough time to be involved in project decision-making before key decisions are made and impacts occur; and • fully informed about the project and its potential impacts and benefits.
Freedom of association	Freedom of association is the right of all workers and employers without exception to establish and join organisations of their own choosing without prior authorisation and without interference from government or from one another.

Geographic scope (by country)	Country or countries in which an RJC Accredited CAB and/or ASI Accredited
Gemmological report	A published account of the observations, analysis, measurements, research, evaluation, or other information (including treatments to alter the appearance of the gemstone) pertaining to the gemstones, diamonds, jewellery or other items observed for the purpose of communicating expert and independent opinion, data, or analysis. The report includes appropriate and necessary disclosures and disclaimers.
Gender-based violence and harassment	Violence and harassment directed at persons because of their sex or gender, or affecting persons of a particular sex or gender disproportionately, and includes sexual harassment. ( ILO 190(b)).
Geographical place of origin report	A report that contains an opinion on the geographical origin (for example, country or region) of coloured gemstone(s).
GISTM	Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management
Gold	A rare yellow metallic element with the chemical symbol Au and the atomic number 79.
Good faith negotiation	A documented process (and resulting outcomes) of negotiation, in which all parties: • are willing to engage in the process and can meet at reasonable times and frequency; • use mutually acceptable procedures for negotiation; • know enough about the situation for informed negotiation; • explore key issues of importance; • are willing to change their initial position and modify offers where possible; and • are given enough time to make decisions.
Grandfathered (Legacied)	RJC Scope Materials that meet the following conditions: • Existing stock of diamonds/coloured gemstones purchased before 23 April 2019 • Gold and PGM: Refined gold/PGM with a verifiable date of production prior to 1 January 2012. • Silver: Refined silver with a verifiable date of production prior to 1 January 2018. Note that the term “grandfathered” has been widely used by many organisations, including the OECD. However, the term carries negative connotations in some jurisdictions. It is for this reason that the RJC has decided to create and move to the term legacied, which does not have the same history. See Legacied.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions	Gases that contribute to the natural greenhouse effect. This includes the six gases listed in the Kyoto Protocol: carbon dioxide (CO2); methane (CH4); nitrous oxide (N2O); hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs); perfluorocarbons (PFCs); and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6).
GRI	Global Reporting Initiative
Grievance mechanism	Grievance mechanisms are formal complaint processes for individuals, workers, communities and/or civil society organisations adversely affected by business activities and operations to report their grievances for investigation and remediation as necessary.
Group (or Group Company)	A “Group” (application form) / “Group of Companies” (application guidance notes): means a collection of parent and subsidiary companies that function as a single economic entity through a common source of control. A Group Company also means any subsidiary or holding company or associate company of the applicant company and any subsidiary of any holding company of the applicant company

Habitat	A habitat is a terrestrial, freshwater, or marine geographical unit or airway that supports assemblages of living organisms and their interactions with the non-living environment. The place or type of site where an organism or population naturally occurs.
Harassment	Harassment is any type of unwelcome conduct from a boss, co-worker, group of co-workers, customer or vendor whose actions, communication or behaviour mocks, demeans, puts down, disparages or ridicules an employee. Physical assaults, threats and intimidation are severe forms of harassment.
Hazard	A hazard is a source of potential harm, injury or detriment.
Hazardous work	Hazardous work is any work that puts a child’s (or young worker’s) physical or psychological well-being at risk because of the nature of the work or the conditions under which it is carried out. Based on International Labour Organization (ILO) Recommendation 190, this includes: • work that exposes children to physical, psychological or sexual abuse; • work underground, under water, at dangerous heights or in confined spaces; • work with dangerous machinery, equipment and tools, or which involves the manual handling or transport of heavy loads; • work in an unhealthy environment, for example one that exposes children to hazardous substances, agents or processes, or to temperatures, noise levels or vibrations damaging to their health; and • work under particularly difficult conditions such as long hours, night work or work that unreasonably confines children to the employer’s premises.
Hazardous substance	A hazardous substance is any material that poses a threat to human health or the environment.
Head office assessment	An RJC-nominated third-party assessor assesses the CAB head office (the head office is identified where the top management of the CAB is located)
Health and safety	Health and safety includes a diverse range of initiatives intended to protect workers from exposure to short- and long-term risks at work and to reduce workplace injuries and illnesses.
Homeworkers	Homeworkers are contracted by the company or by a third party (for example, a supplier, sub-supplier or subcontractor), but do not work on the company’s site.
Human rights	Human rights are the universal rights and freedoms that belong to all people without discrimination. As a minimum, the RJC understands human rights to mean those rights articulated in the International Bill of Human Rights, the International Labour Organization (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and applicable law.
Human rights due diligence	Human rights due diligence is the reasonable investigation undertaken by a business to identify, assess, prevent and mitigate human rights impacts in its supply chain.
Human trafficking	Human trafficking involves recruiting, harbouring or transporting people into a situation of exploitation through the use of violence, coercion or deception and forced to work against their will. People can be trafficked for many reasons, including forced labour.

IAF	International Accreditation Forum
ICOCA	International Code of Conduct Association
IFC	International Finance Corporation
Illegitimate sources	Sources of material that are in violation of applicable law. They include all sources involved in, for example, illegal mining, money laundering, as well as all sources used to fund or contribute to conflict, terrorism or crime.
ILO	International Labour Organisation
Imitation or artificial coloured gemstone	A product that imitates the appearance of a natural gemstone but does not have the same chemical or physical properties.
Impact assessment	The process of identifying, predicting, evaluating and mitigating the biophysical, social and other relevant effects of development proposals before any major decision or commitment is made. Impact assessment is used to ensure that projects, programmes and policies are economically viable, socially equitable and environmentally sustainable.
Indentured labour	Happens when a third party, often a parent or guardian, offers a worker in exchange for money. Indentured labourers are forced to work for either a fixed time, or until the proprietors decide they have received fair value.
Indigenous peoples	Considering the diversity of Indigenous Peoples, an official definition of “Indigenous” has not been adopted by any UN-system body. Instead, the UN system has developed a modern understanding of this term based on the following: • Self-identification as Indigenous Peoples at the individual level and accepted by the community as their member; • Historical continuity with pre-colonial and/or pre-settler societies; • Strong link to territories and surrounding natural resources; • Distinct social, economic or political systems; • Distinct language, culture and beliefs; • From non-dominant groups of society; • Resolve to maintain and reproduce their ancestral environments and systems as distinctive peoples and communities.
Individual	A single person or thing, especially when compared to the group or set to which they belong.
Intangible cultural heritage	Refers to cultural resources, knowledge, innovations and/or practices of local communities embodying traditional lifestyles.
Informal recycling	The collection, aggregation and manual processing of end-of-life scrap to extract recyclable materials. Unlike the formal recycling sector, informal recycling is largely unmechanised and instead relies on manual, labour-intensive techniques.
Interested party/parties	Person or organisations that cab affect or be affected by or perceive itself to be affected by a decision or activity.
Internationally recognised	Something that is well-known or renowned in more than one country. It can refer to a high level of achievement in a field, or to a standard or an accreditation or degree that is valid worldwide.
Involuntary resettlement	Situations when affected people or communities do not have the right to refuse land acquisition or restrictions on land use that result in physical or economic displacement. This happens in cases of lawful expropriation or temporary or permanent restrictions on land use. It can also happen during negotiated settlements if negotiations fail.
IRCA	International Register of Certificated Auditors
ISO	International Organisation for Standardisation

Jewellery	For the application of the RJC certification system, an adornment made of gold, silver, PGM and/or set with diamonds or coloured gemstones. Jewellery includes, but is not limited to, bracelets, rings, necklaces, earrings and watches.
Jewellery components	Jewellery components are physically integral parts with defined characteristics that can be separated from a larger jewellery product. Components can be assembled into both finished and semi-finished jewellery products.
Jewellery products	Jewellery products are semi-finished or finished jewellery, or components.

Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs)	Sites contributing significantly to the global persistence of biodiversity. They represent the world’s most important sites for biodiversity conservation and are identified nationally using standard criteria and thresholds set by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). KBAs typically include areas of critical habitat (see below).
The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS	A binding joint government, international diamond industry and civil society initiative to stem the flow of conflict diamonds.
Know Your Counterparty (KYC) principles	Principles established to combat money laundering and finance of terrorism, require businesses to identify every organisation that they deal with, to understand the legitimacy of their business relationships and, within reason, to identify and react to unusual or suspicious transaction patterns.

A landscape	The visible features of an area of land, including physical elements such as landforms, living elements of flora and fauna, abstract elements such as lighting and weather conditions, and human elements, for example human activity or the built environment. Landscape means different things to different people. For the ecologist it may be the habitat of a certain species. For local households and communities, it may be the local forest, watershed or agricultural setting. For government agencies, it can mean an entire bioregion that crosses political boundaries and encompasses multiple watersheds, towns, villages, highways, flora, fauna, core protected areas, buffers and corridors.
Landscape level planning	Planning, whether done to guide conservation, sustainable land use or development, that sets out to tackle issues that are not tractable at the very local scale by taking a multi-stakeholder perspective at a wider, landscape scale. It encompasses a diverse range of practices that seek to link local community-based action to the broader landscape or ecosystem, taking into consideration national and regional perspectives.
Large Scale Mining (LSM)	The activity of large companies as well as to mid-tier and junior-level companies or to any formal company that complies with international performance standards. LSM usually includes significant amounts of investment and a high-level of mechanisation.
Lead Auditor	A qualified person responsible for the overall conduct of an RJC Audit and who can lead an Audit Team. A lead auditor is responsible for the efficient and effective conduct and completion of a certification audit for a member and may coordinate a team of auditors.
Legacied (grandfathered)	RJC Scope Materials that meet the following conditions: • Existing stock of diamonds/coloured gemstones purchased before 23 April 2019 • Gold and PGM: Refined gold/PGM with a verifiable date of production prior to 1 January 2012. • Silver: Refined silver with a verifiable date of production prior to 1 January 2018.
Legacy (impacts)	Significant impacts which historically occurred at the Facility that have not been remediated and are still impacting Affected People or Groups. These may be impacts that occurred: • prior to RJC Certification, and/or • prior to the current owner purchasing the facility or operation, and/or • in the establishment of the facility or operation. Legacy Impacts may have occurred many years prior; there is no ‘cut-off’ at which Legacy Impacts meeting the above requirements are not to be considered.
Legal Compliance (with Applicable Law)	Refers to the procedures, systems or departments within organisations that ensure all legal, operational and financial activities are in conformity with current laws, rules, norms, regulations, standards and public expectations.
Legitimate artisanal and small-scale mining	The legitimacy of artisanal and small-scale mining is a difficult concept to define because it involves a number of situation-specific factors. For the purposes of this Guidance, legitimate refers, among others, to artisanal and small-scale mining that is consistent with applicable laws. When the applicable legal framework is not enforced, or in the absence of such a framework, the assessment of the legitimacy of artisanal and small-scale mining will take into account the good faith efforts of artisanal and small-scale miners and enterprises to operate within the applicable legal framework (where it exists) as well as their engagement in opportunities for formalisation as they become available (bearing in mind that in most cases, artisanal and small-scale miners have very limited or no capacity, technical ability or sufficient financial resources to do so). In either case, Artisanal and small-scale mining, as with all mining, cannot be considered legitimate when it contributes to conflict and serious abuses associated with the extraction, transport or trade of minerals as defined in Annex II of the OECD Guidance.
Lifecycle	The interlinked stages of a product (or service) system, from raw material acquisition or natural resources to final disposal.
Light Work	Work that is not likely to harm the health or development of children, and does not prejudice their attendance at school, their participation in legitimate vocational orientation or training programmes, or their capacity to benefit from the instruction received.
Living wage	Remuneration received for a standard work week by a worker in a particular place sufficient to afford a decent standard of living for the worker and her or his family.” Elements of a decent standard of living include food, water, housing, education, health care, transport, clothing, and other essential needs, including provision for unexpected events.
Local community / communities	A term generally applied to any people or communities located in an operation’s or project’s geographical proximity, particularly those subject to actual or potential direct project-related risks and/or adverse impacts on their physical environment, health or livelihoods. Additionally, it often refers to a group of people or families who live in a particular locality, sometimes share a common interest (water users associations, fishers, herders, grazers, and the like), often have common cultural and historical heritage and have different degrees of cohesiveness.

Major change or expansion	A significant change to an existing operation (or facility) that has occurred since a Member has joined the RJC. This would be a change that mayt introduce Material issues or may have a Material risk to the environment or Human Rights that was not evaluated, or that changes the situation compared to a previous Impact Assessment.
Management system	A set of interrelated or interacting elements of an organisation to establish policies and objectives, and processes to achieve those objectives. A management system can address a single discipline or several disciplines (e.g. quality, environment, occupational health and safety, energy, financial management). The management system elements include the organisation’s structure, roles and responsibilities, planning and operation, performance evaluation and improvement.
Marginalised	Those subjected or at risk of being subjected to multiple discrimination due to the interplay of different personal characteristics or grounds, such as sex, gender, age, ethnicity, religion or belief, health status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, education or income, or living in various geographic localities. It can also include those treated or at risk of being treated as if they are not important or experience discrimination and exclusion (social, political and economic) because of unequal power relationships across economic, political, social and cultural dimensions.
Material issues	Issues that are relevant or significant. The Materiality principle of the GRI Standards defines materiality in the context of a sustainability report as aspects that reflect the organisation’s significant economic, environmental and social impacts, or that substantively influence the assessments and decisions of stakeholders.
Material Risk (Materiality)	A risk that is either: – Any external risk that a reasonable person would consider important or the impacts of which could translate into financial risk for the Member. – An extension of the key accounting concept of materiality of financial information to encompass ESG and other sustainability impacts (sometimes referred to as “double materiality”).
Member	A member is a commercial member of the RJC (e.g. excluding trade associations), as listed on the RJC website. Members can comprise one or more entities or facilities. Every member: • Is actively involved for commercial reasons in the precious metals, diamonds and coloured gemstones jewellery and watch supply chain (Entities involved in the role of consultant, advisor or any other similar activity are exempt. • Commits to the relevant mandatory RJC standard and to an independent certification audit against it; and • Undertakes to pay the annual RJC commercial membership fee.
Mercury	A naturally occurring element found in rocks in the earth’s crust. It is a heavy, silverywhite metal which is liquid at room temperature and evaporates easily. It exists in several forms: elemental (metallic) mercury, methylmercury and organic compounds, and inorganic mercury compounds. Mercury has been recognised as a chemical of global concern owing to its potential to travel long distances through the air, its persistence in the environment once put there by people, its ability to concentrate as it rises up the food chain and its significant negative effects on human health and the environment. Amy also be known as quicksilver.
Migrant worker	A person who is to be engaged, is engaged or has been engaged in a remunerated activity in a State of which he or she is not a national.
Closure	The process undertaken when the operational stage of a mine or a mineral processing operation is ending or has ended, and the final decommissioning and rehabilitation is underway.
Mined material	Material produced by a mining facility (or ‘mine’) usually in the form of mineral concentrate, impure alloy or refined metal.
Rehabilitation	The restoration of the post-mined landscape or the post-mineral processing site to the intended post-operating use.
Mining (or mining operations)	Any set of activities undertaken for the purpose of extracting mineral resources, and the infrastructure required to support these activities. Mining operations may include exploration, mine construction, mining, mine closure, post-closure and related activities either as separately or in combination.
A mining facility, or ‘mine’	A facility, or operation that extracts RJC scope materials or minerals containing saleable quantities of RJC scope materials, from the earth.
Mining by-product	Mining by-product includes gold, silver or PGM from processing residues (such as slimes) that arise from the metallurgical processing of other metals such as copper, lead, zinc or nickel.
Mining-related activities	Physical activities (e.g., land disturbance and clearing, road building, sampling, airborne surveys, facility construction, ore removal, ore processing, waste management, reclamation, etc.) carried out during any phase of the mine life cycle (planning, impact assessment, exploration, mine construction, mining, mine closure, post-closure).
Mineral processors	The process to extract or separate a valuable product as either a mineral concentrate or a metal (elemental or as an alloy) that is contained in a mined metal bearing ore from the waste rock (also known as gangue or tailings). Mineral processing typically includes a combination of a mineral concentrate stage followed by an extractive metallurgy stage. Mineral processing involves some or all of the follow methods: • Production of a mineral concentrate via methods such as: o comminution (particle size reduction), o sizing (separation of particle sizes by screening or classification), o concentration of minerals (using physical and surface chemical properties) o dewatering (separation of solids and liquids). • extractive metallurgy to extract metals from metal-bearing minerals via methods such as: o hydrometallurgy (the use of aqueous solutions to extract metals), o pyrometallurgy (the use of high temperature processes) o electrometallurgy (the use of some form of electrolytic cell). Mineral concentrate processing and extractive metallurgy generally changes the physical and chemical form of the mined ore. Some exceptions do exist, such as gold which may be present as free metal in the ore and which will ultimately be extracted as free metal in bullion form.
Minimum wage	The legally required minimum amount that must be paid to workers. It is the higher of that set by the government or that contained in an applicable collective bargaining agreement.
Minimum working age	As defined by ILO Convention 138, the minimum working age is 15 years, or statutory school-leaving age, whichever is higher. It can vary by country.
Mining lifecycle	The series of phases over the course of a mining project going from exploration, feasibility studies and construction through production to mine closure, rehabilitation and post-closure.
Mining wastes	Wastes generated during the extraction, beneficiation and processing of ore. This can occur in mining or mineral processing operations.
Mitigation hierarchy	An approach to mitigation that involves prioritising options in a sequential way, starting with action to avoid impacts, followed by action to minimise them. If the negative environmental impacts are significant, it can also be appropriate to restore and, finally, offset them.
Money laundering	The process of disguising the financial proceeds of crime to conceal their illegal origin.

Natural Capital	Part of nature which directly or indirectly underpins value to people, including ecosystems, species, freshwater, soils, minerals, the air and oceans, as well as natural processes and functions.
Natural resources	Materials or substances that are found in nature and used in human activities. They include coal, mineral oil, natural gas, water and forest products.
New (proposal, project, operation)	A project or operation that has been constructed or proposed for construction since a Member has joined the RJC.
Night	Defined as the consecutive hours between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. Under ILO Convention 33, young workers are not allowed to work at night.
No Net Loss and Net Gain (of biodiversity)	Targets for development projects in which the impacts on biodiversity caused by the project are balanced or outweighed by measures taken to first avoid and minimize the impacts, then to undertake on-site rehabilitation and/or restoration, and finally to offset the residual impacts (if appropriate). No net loss, in essence, refers to the point where biodiversity gains from targeted conservation activities match the losses of biodiversity due to the impacts of a specific development project, so that there is no net reduction overall in the type, amount and condition (or quality) of biodiversity over space and time. A net gain (sometimes referred to as Net Positive Impact) means that biodiversity gains exceed a specific set of losses.
Non COC-certified entity	An entity that has not obtained certification against the COC standard through an RJC audit.
Non-voluntary overtime	Any overtime work an employee does under threat of penalty, or without willing consent. It is considered an indicator of forced labour, and a violation of COP 20 Forced labour.
Non-discrimination	Employees are judged on the basis of their ability to do a job, without exclusion or preference on any other grounds. Distinctions based strictly on the inherent requirements of particular work are not discrimination.
Normal working week	The amount of non-overtime hours an employee works per week, which is limited to a maximum of 48 hours under international labour standards. National or local law can sometimes define the limit as less than 48 hours per week, and so can a collective bargaining agreement.

Occasional (work)	Work that is not part of an employee’s regularly scheduled work week.
OECD	Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Operations	Facilities and activities
Origin	For mined material: The mine, company, region or geographical location where the mine is located, whether an artisanal and small-scale mine or a medium or large-scale one. For recycled material: The point at which it re-enters the jewellery supply chain. For recycled gold, silver or PGM, this is the point at which it is returned to the refiner or other downstream intermediate processor or recycler.
Other beneficial owner	Any individual, company, government or parastatal organisation or trust that own or control 20% or more of the shares in in a “company” that is part of a “group of companies”, but is not the “ultimate parent company”.
Outsourcing contractor	An individual, company or other business that takes custody of material to process or manufacture it for another entity.
Overtime	The number of hours an employee works beyond the normal working week. International standards set overtime limits at 60 hours per week. But different countries, local laws and collective bargaining agreements may accept different standards.
Oversight	A combined process of audit, review and decision on a CABs conformance with the RJC accreditation criteria.
Owned or affiliated distrobution entity	A part of a member’s broader organisation which may be included in their COP membership scope or sit outside it where management control lies with another part of the organisation. In relation to COC material, an owned or affiliated distribution entity provides only logistical or sales services, maintaining segregation and not physically changing material in their custody.

Personal protective equipment (PPE)	Protective clothing and garments (such as gloves, footwear, helmets, goggles and earplugs) designed to protect the wearer from exposure to job-related hazards.
Platinum group metals (PGM)	Platinum Group Metals (PGM) for the scope of the RJC standards includes rhodium, palladium and platinum
Policy	A statement of intentions and direction of an organisation as formally expressed by its top management.
Politically exposed person	Someone who is or has been entrusted with a prominent public function. Their status and influence puts many of these people in positions that can be potentially abused to commit money laundering and related predicate offences, including corruption and bribery, as well as activities related to terrorist financing.
Post-consumer gold, silver or PGM	Gold, silver or PGM derived from post-consumer precious metal products, such as jewellery and ornaments sourced from individuals, organisations or industrial facilities in their role as end-users of a fully assembled product. This includes products which have been used or were intended to be used for their original purpose that are no longer required/desired or can no longer be used for their original purpose.
Pre-consumer gold, silver or PGM	Gold, silver or PGM derived from the jewellery and manufacturing process, or from semi-processed or finished items that have not entered the consumer market but are returned to a refiner or other downstream intermediate processor to begin a new life cycle
Premium rate of pay	Pay that is higher than the normal working week pay rate.
Priority Ecosystem Services	Ecosystem services that are considered priority under the following circumstances: i: Project operations are likely to result in a significant impact on the ecosystem service; the impact will result in a direct adverse impact on affected communities’ livelihood, health, safety and/or cultural heritage; and the project has direct management control or significant influence over the service; or ii: The project directly depends on the service for its primary operations; and the project has direct management control or significant influence over the service.
Prison labour	Involuntary work done by prisoners who have not been convicted in a court of law and whose work is not supervised by a public authority. It also includes involuntary work done by a prisoner for the benefit of a private undertaking.
Private individuals	Individuals that act only for themselves: they do not represent any group, company or organisation, and they do not trade materials commercially.
Procedures	Step-by-step descriptions of how a job or task within a process is done; by whom and when. These may also be considered as controls.
Process	A set of interrelated or interacting activities which transforms inputs into outputs.
Product disclosure	The proper, complete and accurate disclosure of all relevant information about jewellery products, including the types of treatments used to alter the product’s appearance, and whether or not the product needs special care (either because of its physical characteristics or because of any treatments it has undergone). This information must be disclosed for diamonds, treated diamonds, synthetic diamonds and diamond simulants; coloured gemstones and synthetic, imitation, treated, artificial, reconstructed or composite coloured gemstones; and gold, silver and PGM products.
Product packaging	Qnything containing jewellery components, jewellery products or finished jewellery products or material on which the items are mounted, and which can be removed without damage or disintegration being caused to the product. This would include boxes, pouches, bags and the like.
Production peaks	Defined as occurring for a 17-week period (a third of the year). This is an industry accepted norm dating back to 1996 when the Apparel Industry Partnership was established, known today as the Fair Labor Association.
Protected area	A geographically defined area that is legally designated or regulated and managed to achieve specific conservation objectives. Legally protected areas include for example: i. World Heritage sites or areas on any official government list (both tentative and nominated) for World Heritage Site Inscription; ii IUCN protected area management categories I-III; iii Core areas of UNESCO biosphere reserves iv Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance.
A Protected Area/Protected Area Management Categories (IUCN)	Defined geographical space, recognized, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values. The definition is expanded by six “protected area management categories” (one with a sub-division), summarized below: ia: Strict nature reserve: Strictly protected for biodiversity and also possibly geological/ geomorphological features, where human visitation, use and impacts are controlled and limited to ensure protection of the conservation values ib: Wilderness area: Usually large unmodified or slightly modified areas, retaining their natural character and influence, without permanent or significant human habitation, protected and managed to preserve their natural condition ii: National Park: Large natural or near-natural areas protecting large-scale ecological processes with characteristic species and ecosystems, which also have environmentally and culturally compatible spiritual, scientific, educational, recreational and visitor opportunities iii: Natural monument or feature: Areas set aside to protect a specific natural monument, which can be a landform, sea mount, marine cavern, geological feature such as a cave, or a living feature such as an ancient grove iv: Habitat/species management area: Areas to protect particular species or habitats, where management reflects this priority. Many will need regular, active interventions to meet the needs of particular species or habitats, but this is not a requirement of the category v: Protected landscape or seascape: Where the interaction of people and nature over time has produced a distinct character with significant ecological, biological, cultural and scenic value: and where safeguarding the integrity of this interaction is vital to protecting and sustaining the area and its associated nature conservation and other values
Protected areas with sustainable use of natural resources	Areas which conserve ecosystems, together with associated cultural values and traditional natural resource management systems. Generally large, mainly in a natural condition, with a proportion under sustainable natural resource management and where low-level non-industrial natural resource use compatible with nature conservation is seen as one of the main aims.
Provenance claim	A documented claim, made using descriptions or symbols, that relates to gold, silver, PGM, diamonds or coloured gemstones that are offered for sale (whether as stand-alone materials or set in jewellery). Provenance claims are typically made about a product’s origin, verification of source, traceability of material, certification of material or suppliers, or another mechanism to ensure responsible sourcing practices that are not covered elsewhere in the COP.
Publicly available	Something such as information, that is accessible without restriction, to the public.

Quality Assurance System	Steps and systems implemented within a process that ensures conformance with a set of reference standards and includes steps to seek to prevent uncertainty or error.
Quality control system	Steps and systems implemented within a process that includes preventative or corrective techniques and activities ensuring baseline quality requirements are fulfilled.

RBA	Responsible Business Alliance (formerly EICC)
Reasonable time	Time that is not manifestly unreasonable in those circumstances may be termed ‘reasonable time’.
Recognised government	i. any government that is recognised by the United Nations as the legitimate government; AND ii. any government that is not subject to sanctions by the UK government for the mining, selling, manufacturing or buying of materials within “RJC Scope”; AND iii. any government whose recognition by the RJC is one that the RJC Board of Directors believes will not lead to any: a. reputational damage to the RJC b. decline in consumer confidence in the global jewellery industry. Currently, the RJC Board has determined that this excludes ANY company from the following countries: Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea & Russia.
Reconstructed coloured gemstone (or Reconstituted gemstone)	An imitation stone made by melting (without subsequent crystallisation) or fusing together natural materials. It is may also be known as a reconstituted gemstone.
Records	Evidence both digital records and physical documentation that you may use to control your processes and that provide evidence of what you have done to conform with the requirements of an RJC Standard and the movement of any COC eligible material.
Recyclable materials	Materials that have been previously processed or used (including end-user, post-consumer, and scrap and waste products or materials arising during process operations or manufacturing) and then returned to a the supply chain to begin a new life cycle as ‘recycled material’.
Recycler	A recycler is a person or company that collects, sorts, and treats waste to create useful materials that can be reused. Recycling involves turning materials that would otherwise be thrown away into new products. For the COC Standard, a recycler is an individual or entity that is not a refiner, that collects, consolidates and/or processes recyclable materials including scrap gold, silver or PGMs, prior to refining to begin a new life cycle. A recycler may undertake some intermediate processes such as sampling and assaying prior to refining.
Red flag	A warning or indicator of a potential risk. In the context of due diligence, a red flag can be a location, supplier or circumstance that triggers a need for enhanced due diligence (that is, further investigation).
Relevant knowledge and experience	Expertise, skills and understanding in a nominated field or subject or geographic location pertaining to the jewellery and watch manufacturing supply chain.
Remuneration	Includes wages or salaries, and any other benefits in cash or in kind, paid by employers to workers.
Replicable Cultural Heritage	Tangible forms of cultural heritage (see definition tangiable cultural heritage) that can themselves be moved to another location or that can be replaced by a similar structure or natural features to which the cultural values can be transferred by appropriate measures. Archaeological or historical sites may be considered replicable where the particular eras and cultural values they represent are well represented by other sites and/or structures.
Renewable energy	Energy collected from resources that are naturally replenished at a rate equal or faster than extracted or used. Renewable energy includes sources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves, biomass, and geothermal heat.
Reporting	A process for publicly communicating about an organisation’s business practices to stakeholders, such as the government, investors, business partners, employees and consumers. It is sometimes called disclosure. Reporting and disclosure can be mandatory (if it is required by law) or voluntary (if it is undertaken by choice, for example to create additional transparency).
Representation	Illustrations, descriptions, expressions, words, figures, depictions or symbols shown in a way that may reasonably be regarded as relating to the jewellery product. Representations, particularly to the final consumer, must be truthful and accurate, without leaving out anything that may affect the product’s value, appearance, durability or rarity.
Resettlement	Includes both the physical displacement (relocation or loss of shelter) and the economic displacement (loss of assets or access to assets that leads to loss of income sources or other means of livelihood) that happens when an RJC member acquires land or places new restrictions on land use. See also Involuntary resettlement.
Residual impacts	Impacts that remain after on-site mitigation measures (avoidance, minimisation, restoration) have been applied.
Residual risk	The risk that still remains after protective measures (risk reduction) have been taken.
Rest days	A continuous period of not less than 24 hours during which an employee is entitled to abstain from working for her employer.
Retailer	A company who engages in the sale of goods, primarily to the public, both online and in store.
Retaliation	Any kind of negative action taken against an employee as a result of reporting a grievance. This includes any form of punishment and any action that creates a hostile, threatening or uncomfortable environment. In some jurisdictions, this may be known as ‘victimisation’.
Retrenchment	The elimination of a number of work positions or the dismissal or layoff of a number of workers by an employer, generally by reason of plant closing or for cost savings. Retrenchment does not cover isolated cases of termination of employment for cause or voluntary departure. Retrenchment is often a consequence of adverse economic circumstances or as a result of a reorganisation or restructuring.
Reviewed financial statements	Financial statements that an accountant has reviewed and found to require no material modifications to conform with the applicable financial reporting framework.
Rights holder	Persons and/or groups vested with collective rights (e.g., Indigenous Peoples) that have their Human Rights put at risk or impacted by a project or its associated activities. For example, individuals living in a Local Community whose only water source has been impacted by an extractive operation may be Rightsholders. Workers facing discrimination in the workplace may also be Rightsholders.
Supply chain risk	In the context of due diligence, this is the potential for adverse impacts which result from a company’s own activities or its relationships with suppliers and other entities in the supply chain.
High risk supply chains	In the context of due diligence, this is the potential for serious human rights abuses, direct or indirect support to nonstate armed groups or public or private security forces, bribery and fraudulent misrepresentation of the origin of minerals, money laundering and non-payment of taxes and royalties due to governments.
Risk-based due diligence	The steps that companies should take to identify and address actual or potential risks in order to prevent or mitigate adverse impacts associated with their activities or sourcing decisions in the supply chain.
RJC Accreditation	Recognition by the RJC of a CAB and/or an individual auditor’s competence to carry out verification assessments and evaluate conformance against an RJC standard.
RJC Accreditation Cycle	5 year RJC accreditation period.
RJC Accreditation Scope	The extent to which an RJC Accredited CAB and/or an individual auditor can conduct RJC Audits, defined by: – RJC Standards – Geographic Scope – RJC jewellery and watch manufacturing supply chain sectors – Individual auditor status
RJC Accredited CAB	An independent, third-party CAB meeting the RJC’s objective selection criteria who manage RJC audits.
RJC Accredited Individual Auditor	An independent, and qualified individual person belonging to a RJC Accredited CAB meeting the RJC’s objective selection criteria who performs RJC audits.
RJC Audit	Systematic, independent and documented process for obtaining and assessing objective evidence to determine the extent to which the requirements for RJC Certification are fulfilled by an RJC Member. See the RJC Assessment Manual for more information.
RJC Certification	An attestation by the RJC, based on the results of an audit by an accredited auditor, that the member has achieved the required level of conformance against the RJC Standards.
COP RJC Scope Materials	Materials covered under the scope of the COP standard, and includes diamonds, coloured gemstones (emeralds, Rubies, Sapphires), gold, silver and platinum group metals (PGM).
COC RJC Scope Materials	Materials covered under the scope of the COC standard, this includes gold, silver and platinum group metals (PGM). Also see COC material definition.
RJC Standard	An objective practice, procedure or process that is recognised as integral to the integrity of an organisation’s business and/or products and/or services. For the RJC certification system, the RJC Code of Practices and the RJC Lab Grown Materials Standard aremandatory for all members. The Chain of Custody is voluntary and compliments certification against the COP.
RJC Topic Specialists	A Topic Expert that has registered and acknowledged by the RJC with specific knowledge or expertise to assist RJC Members or with RJC Auditors. Note that an RJC Topic Specialist is not an auditor and cannot participate on RJC Audits for Members where they have provided consultancy services in the previous 3 years.

SAAS	Social Accountability Accreditation Services
Safety data sheet (SDS)	A document giving information on the properties of hazardous chemicals and how they affect health and safety in the workplace.
Science-based approach	Action commensurate with what the latest climate science deems necessary to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement – limiting global warming to well-below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C.
Scope 1 emissions	Direct emissions from sources that are controlled or owned by an organisation.
Scope 2 emissions	Indirect emissions from the generation of purchased or acquired energy including electricity, steam, heating and cooling.
Scope 3 emissions	All indirect emissions (not included in scope 2) that occur in the value chain of the reporting company, including both upstream and downstream emissions.
Scrap or Waste (COC) material	For the RJC COC Standard, this is gold, silver or PGM derived from pre or post-consumer precious metals or a mix of both, industrial products including waste electrical and electronic equipment, or industrial components such as spent catalysts and fuel cells;
Seek to influence	Attempt to have a postivie effect on people, organisation or things. Also see Ability to influence definition.
Selling	Offering a product for sale, exposing it for sale or displaying it in any way that could reasonably lead someone to believe it is intended for sale.
Senior staff	A worker who has advanced to a certain level based on experience in their industry, as well as knowledge that they can share with others. Typically this includes strong leadership skills, with delegated authority to manage, supervise or oversee change or the implementation of assigned tasks within their area of responsibility.
Service company	A company that takes custody of, and provides services on, eligible and COC material, maintaining segregation on behalf of a client, and not physically changing material in their custody. Service companies include grading labs, assayers, appraisers, security and transportation companies. For the purpose of this standard this would also include organisations controlled by the state which are tasked with controlling activities in the sector, such as controlling the fineness of materials.
Shipments	The act of sending goods to a destination, or the goods themselves. Also see Transfers definition.
Transfers	The movement of goods between entities or trading partners. See also shipments definition.
Significant	Something that is noteworthy, or being sufficiently important to be worthy of attention, and usually has a defined meaning.
Significant Business partner	A business partner that is very important to the RJC member’s business, including all major suppliers and large customers. Members should use their own judgement to determine whether a business partner is significant or not. For example, traders that sell you coloured gemstones would be considered significant business partners unless the volume or value of material you are buying is very small.
Significant risk	The level of risks usually defined by a Member’s or an Auditor’s risk processes. However, it should consider situations where there is a high chance of: • Injury or illness to one or more people resulting in permanent partial impairment or disability or death • Long term irreversible impacts to the environment, sensitive species, habitat, ecosystems or areas of cultural importance affecting large numbers of the Local Community (one stakeholder group) or multiple Affected people or groups, and impacting on the Member’s ability to retain its ‘social licence to operate’.
Silver	A precious shiny greyish-white transition metal element with the chemical symbol Ag and the atomic number 47.
Social insurance scheme	A government-sponsored programme that provides protection against various economic risks to people (such as loss of income due to sickness, old age or unemployment) and that requires financial contributions, usually from employers.
Source	The geographical place, person or company from which the material is obtained. The source of mined material is: • For gold, silver or PGM: the mine or country of mining origin. • For diamonds or coloured gemstones: for upstream companies and Tier 1 midstream companies, this is the mine or country of mining origin, company and/or region. For Tier 2 midstream and downstream companies, the source will be the rough exporter (first export from country of mining origin), or Tier 1 midstream company suppliers if possible, and if not, the furthest known point in the upstream supply chain. The source of recycled material is the same as its origin.
SoW	System of Warranties
Stakeholder	Persons or groups who are directly or indirectly affected by a project and its associated facilities, as well as those who may have interests in a project and/or the ability to influence its outcome, either positively or negatively. From a Due Diligence perspective impacted Stakeholders will be the priority for engagement and may include but are not limited to: • Workers (including local and Migrant Workers) and Labour Unions • Landowners and other resource users • Artisanal miners • Governments (local, regional and national) • Civil society organisations, including environmental and Community-based organisations and local Human Rights defenders Additionally, interested Stakeholders that may be important for meaningful engagement can include: • Industry peers • Investors/shareholders • Business partners • Scientific community • The media • Ecosystems and biodiversity features (represented by advocates)
Stakeholder and community engagement	A two-way process of information sharing and decision-making that aims to simultaneously address community issues and priorities (including the needs of disadvantaged and vulnerable groups), as well as the concerns and needs of the business. It is carried out in a manner that is inclusive and culturally sensitive: beyond listening, the aim of engagement is to ensure mutual understanding and responsiveness by all parties to enable them to discuss and manage matters with the potential to affect all concerned. Successful engagement requires a robust framework for regular discussion, consultation and interaction.
Statutory audit	An audit that is required under applicable law.
Sustainability or environment social and governance (ESG) report	A report is a report published by a company or organisation about the economic, environmental and social impacts caused by its everyday activities. A sustainability or ESG report also presents the organisation’s values and governance model, and demonstrates the link between its strategy and its commitment to a sustainable global economy.
Synthetic coloured gemstone	A man-made gemstone with the same chemical and physical properties as its naturally occurring mined counterpart.
Synthetic diamond	A man-made diamond with the same physical and chemical properties as a naturally, occuring mined diamond.
Systems	Management processes and documented procedures that collectively provide a systematic framework for ensuring tasks are done correctly, consistently and effectively to achieve the desired outcomes and drive continual performance improvements.

Tailings	Tailings are the ground rock and effluents created when the mined ore is processed into a concentrate or final product through physical operations such as screening, crushing, grinding and concentrating, or by methods involving chemicals, heat and pressure, such as leaching.
Tangible cultural heritage	A unique and often nonrenewable resource that possesses cultural, scientific, spiritual, or religious value and includes moveable or immovable objects, sites, structures, groups of structures, natural features, or landscapes that have archaeological, paleontological, historical, architectural, religious, aesthetic, or other cultural value. Examples of tangible cultural heritage can be found in Annex A of IFC’s Cultural Heritage Performance Standard.
Tentative List for World Heritage Site Inscription	The list of sites that relevant State Parties are formally considering for nomination as a World Heritage Site in the next five to ten years.
Third party/parties	A person or body independent of the person or organisation being evaluated, and of material interests in that person or organisation.
Third-party assessor	A person or body independent from the RJC who conducts the oversight assessment of a CAB.
Threatened (and Endangered) Species	Species that meet the IUCN (2001) criteria for Vulnerable (VU), Endangered (EN) or Critically Endangered (CR), and are facing a high, very high or extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. These categories may be re-interpreted according to official national classifications (which have legal significance) and to local conditions and population densities (which should affect decisions about appropriate conservation measures).
Top management	A person or group of people who directs and controls an organisation at the highest level. Note 1: Top management has the power to delegate authority and provide resources within the organisation. Note 2: If the scope of the management system covers only part of an organisation, then top management refers to those who direct and control that part of the organisation.
Topic expert	A person who provides specific knowledge or expertise.
Treated coloured gemstone	A gemstone that has been altered to change its appearance or durability. Treatment may include but not limited to coating, heat treatment, diffusion treatment, laser drilling, high-pressure high-temperature processing, clarity enhancement, filling, and impregnation.
Treated diamond	A diamond that has undergone a process to alter its colour or clarity. Treatment may include but not limited to coating, heat treatment, diffusion treatment, laser drilling, high-pressure high-temperature processing, clarity enhancement, filling, and impregnation.
Treatment analysis	Analysis that determines enhancements or other steps taken to alter the appearance and/or durability of gemstones including but not limited to stone coating, heat treatment, diffusion treatment, laser drilling, high-pressure high-temperature processing, clarity enhancement, filling, and impregnation.
Truthful	Factual data or information that has not been accidentally or deliberately distorted

UNGPs	United Nations Guiding Principles
Ultimate beneficial owner	Any individual, company, government or parastatal organisation or trust that own or control shares in the “ultimate parent company”. UK law requires the identification of all ultimate beneficial owners that own or control 20% or more of the shares in the “ultimate parent company”. (application guidance notes)
Ultimate Beneficial Owners	A public company, private company, parastatal organisations or trusts.
Ultimate Parent Company”	The company that controls a group of companies.

Violence and harassment	Range of unacceptable behaviours and practices, or threats thereof, whether a single occurrence or repeated, that aim at, result in, or are likely to result in physical, psychological, sexual or economic harm, and includes gender-based violence and harassment. (from ILO 190 1(a)). This may include intimidation, corporal punishment; harsh or degrading treatment; sexual or physical harassment; mental, physical, verbal or sexual abuse; retaliation; coercion; and intimidation.
Visitor	A person visiting an Members’s facility or operation or location under the Members’s Control who is not a Worker at the facility or operation or location.
Vulnerable (or at risk)	Those at risk of having their rights denied or who lack the capacity or means to secure them.
Vulnerable workers	Workers that are specific groups of people, such as women, migrants, people with disabilities, ethnic or religious groups, that exist within a larger population and that are at higher risk of being harassed, exploited or in any other way discriminated against.

Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)	End-of-life electronic and electrical equipment. It includes household appliances, IT and telecommunications equipment, and a range of other electronic and electrical consumer goods. Also known as e-waste.
Waste rock and overburden	Materials that are removed to access the ore. These may even contain very low grades of ore, but only at levels that cannot be processed profitably.
Waste rock management	Iinvolves the removal and storage of waste rock, which may be temporary or for the long term.
Wastes and emissions	Solid, liquid or gaseous materials that are released, discarded or no longer needed. Wastes and emissions can cause pollution and adversely impact the environment if not properly managed. In the jewellery supply chain, the main forms of waste include hazardous substances, air and water emissions, and general operational waste.
Worker	Person performing work or work-related activities under the control of the organisation (member). Persons perform work or work-related activities under various arrangements, paid or unpaid, such as regularly or temporarily, intermittently or seasonally, casually or on a part-time basis. Workers include top management (also defined), managerial and non-managerial persons. Workers can include Migrant workers. The work or work-related activities performed under the control of the organisation may be performed by workers employed by the organisation, workers of external providers, contractors, individuals, agency workers, and by other persons to the extent the organisation shares control over their work or work-related activities, according to the context of the organisation.
Workers’ organisation	A voluntary association of workers organised for occupational purposes with the aim of furthering and defending the interests of workers.
Working hours	The amount of time employees spend working on behalf of their employer.
Workplace discipline	The means used to correct or improve job-related behaviour or performance.
World Heritage sites	Sites established under the World Heritage Convention of 1972.
Worst forms of child labour	Defined by ILO Convention 182 as: • all forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as the sale and trafficking of children, debt bondage and serfdom, and forced or compulsory labour, including forced or compulsory recruitment of children for use in armed conflict; • the use, procuring or offering of a child for prostitution, for the production of pornography or for pornographic performances; • the use, procuring or offering of a child for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs as defined in the relevant international treaties; and • work that is likely to harm the health, safety or morals of children. This includes hazardous work as defined above.
Witness assessment	On-site evaluation and verification of the competence and performance of an auditor by a third party who is not part of the audit team.