During a Chief Executive Officer and Members Forum held after the Annual General Meeting of the Council for Responsible jewellery Practices (CRJP), members expressed a great interest in the implementation of the Council's supply chain initiative which is expected to occur in early 2008.

According te a news release by Diamond Intelligence, members were also eager to learn about the planned process of third party validation, involving objective, independent evaluation of how well CRJP members are adhering to responsible business practices.

"Our approach is to require that CRJP members review their own performance and self-assess rather than to set up barriers to membership. Then, when CRJP third party licensed reviewers go through the same procedure with them, members can be acknowledged for those areas in which their business practices meet agreed standards, while learning where their practices can be improved," explains CRJP Program Director Santiago Porto.

"This organization is about seeking to ensure responsible behavior throughout our industry's supply chain, and that takes time. It is a very worthwhile and ambitious endeavor. Therefore we must set realistic expectations and clearly articulate how we intend to move forward," adds Terry Burman, Chief Executive Officer of the Signet Group plc.

"To build a supply chain initiative of this breadth and depth has never been accomplished before. The challenge before us is to get it right, and get there quickly. These two goals can sometimes collide, but we will get there,' notes CRJP Chief Executive Officer Michael L. Rae.

"We now realize that our endeavor is not only necessary and possible, but eminently doable. We are eager to hear questions, comments and criticisms from members and stakeholders as we complete the implementation process for CRJP's supply chain initiative over the next 18 months," concludes Chairman Matthew A. Runci.