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GradingDec 10, 2014
IGI gains re-certification, re-accreditation
The International Gemological Institute recently received recognition from the Responsible Jewelry Council and the International Organization for Standardization.
New York--The International Gemological Institute recently received
recognition from two organizations for meeting certain standards in two
separate phases of its operations.
The Responsible Jewelry
Council (RJC) has granted three-year re-certification to the
International Gemological Institute (IGI)—North & South America, and
the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has granted
the lab re-accreditation for ISO 9001:2008.
The RJC awards
certification to organizations that meet its ethical, social and
environmental standards. The RJC comprises more than 500 member
companies that cover all points on the jewelry supply chain, from mining
of gemstones and metals to retail sales.
The RJC audits and
certifies each of its members against the RJC Codes of Practices, which
address human rights, labor rights, environmental impact, mining
practices, product disclosure and other issues.
The ISO is a
network of national standards institutes from more than 150 countries
working in partnership with industry and consumer representatives,
international organizations, and governments to more directly link
business objectives with effectiveness.
ISO 9001:2008 is
specific to the network’s requirements for a quality management system.
To be accredited, an organization must demonstrate its ability to
consistently provide a product or service that meets customer needs and
any applicable regulatory requirements.
The accreditation
requires that the organization have processes in place for continual
improvement of the system and to ensure conformity to customer and
regulatory requirements.
IGI—North & South America has maintained ISO accreditation consecutively for 10 years.
“These
essential recognitions from RJC and ISO reflect our dedication to
providing accurate and trustworthy product information to consumers, as
well as our devotion to excellence in every business operation phase,”
IGI President & CEO Jerry Ehrenwald said.
“One of our
fundamental goals is to provide customers with the maximum quality of
services available. The fact that we maintain certification by these
organizations demonstrates our long-term commitment to that goal. The
Institute looks forward to continuing to work alongside RJC and ISO to
further all aspects of the industry.”
IGI—North & South
America was established in 1975 and provides grading, identification,
and appraisal reports of gemstones and fine jewelry, as well as
gemological educational courses.
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