RJC clarifies the perspectives of recognized Fairmined Standard V2.0 within CoC

In September 2014, RJC officially recognised the new Fairmined Standard V 2.0 as a Responsible Mining Standard under the RJC Chain-of-Custody (CoC) Standard for precious metals.  
This was a result of an in-depth analysis of comparability between the RJC CoC Standard and the Fairmined Standard, conducted by the RJC’s multi-stakeholder Standards Committee.
The cross-recognition allows gold produced by a Fairmined certified mining organisation to be considered "Eligible Material" for Chain-of-Custody sourcing.  
This means that ASM produced gold, sourced in accordance with the RJC CoC standard can be mixed with other "Eligible Gold".
Claims around the Fairmined certification status of metals can only be made if the requirements of the Fairmined System have been met.
Benefits for Fairmined Certified Producers:
- Access to new and diversified markets
- Encouraging RJC Members to source from Fairmined certified mines
Benefits  for the RJC Members meeting the Fairmined Standard
- CoC Certified Entities (such as gold refiners) may include gold sourced from a Fairmined certified mining organisation and mix it with other defined eligible sources to produce ‘CoC Gold’ under the RJC CoC Standard.
- An additional way to provide support for responsible mining practices
What if a company is not authorized to trade Fairmined certified metals?
It will only be possible to use the Fairmined label, and/or make claims around Fairmined certification, if the trader purchasing from the miners is registered with the Fairmined certification system, and meets the requirements in the Fairmined trading standards. If a company is not registered in this way, it may still source CoC gold containing production from Fairmined certified mines, but claims about the Fairmined certification cannot be made.

Anna Georgieva, Rough&Polished