This July and August witnessed the American jewellery industry to face a serious problem. The US Federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) turned its attention to the problem of irradiated jewels, first of all blue topaz. The NRC intends to introduce licensing of all operations related to sale and distribution of blue topazes due to possible radioactivity of irradiated jewels.
Until 1990, licensed companies could import irradiated jewels to the USA. They were entitled to verify the goods shipments for radioactivity on their own. However, the American jewellery sector now has neither appropriate equipment nor companies entitled to import blue topazes.
The estimated annual sales of blue topaz in the US jewellery sector amount to 1 bn. Dollars. It is easy to imagine what financial losses the sector will face if trade in blue topaz is blocked for a while.
Meanwhile, major American jewellery companies Stuller and Sterling suspended all their merchandising operations with blue topaz until the NRC clarifies the situation.
Spokespersons of the US jewellery community represented by the Jewellers Vigilance Committee (JVC) deny any suspicions in connection with blue topaz. In addition, there is no licensing of irradiated jewels turnover now. The NRC intends to publish new jewel import and distribution regulations at the turn of this year or early next year. Federal officials believe that irradiated jewels may be distributed subject to availability of a document similar to the Kimberley Process Certificate, which could certify safety of jewels. As a result, a significant part of irradiated jewels within the US territory is today practically “beyond the law”.
JVC President Cecilia Gardner stated, “Blue topazes are not more dangerous than mobile phones”. Note that this comparison is not quite good, as the dispute about harm of mobile telephones has been continuing for a long time and rather energetically.
On 26 July, the managements of JVC and American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) met NRC officials. As a result of that meeting, AGTa issued a special statement appealing to the Association members to carry out radioactivity tests on their own if they actively work with irradiated jewels.
AGTa repeated its previous attitude that no jewels that are dangerous to health have been identified in the jewellery sector for decades. However, it had to acknowledge that there was certain evidence of market presence of some number of irradiated jewels that are dangerous to health.
In early August, NRC began first tests of blue topaz shipments for radioactivity as the first step towards introduction of new trade regulations. Its statement dated 9 August noted that tests of 9 shipments of 500 carats each had shown that radioactivity thereof did not exceed the natural background. NRC spokesperson stated to the press that the commission has already begun to receive first applications for licences for working with irradiated jewels. Rough&Polished
