Industry’s code of conduct receives update
Posted September 03, 2013 | By Emily Mobbs • Former Editor
The JAA has released its first annual report on the industry’s Code of
Conduct while announcing that an updated version of the Code itself will
be available later this month.
The JAA Jewellery Industry Code of Conduct (the Code) was developed during 2010 and 2011 and provides guidelines to help people working in the jewellery industry comply with consumer law.
While the Code had already taken into account the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) case against Prouds Jewellers and the first case against Zamel’s in 2010, the association said it was necessary to add further guidance for retailers following the second Zamel’s decision.
As reported previously by Jeweller, the jewellery chain was found guilty last August of misleading consumers about the level of savings made on jewellery and was consequently fined $250,000 by the Federal Court. Zamel’s is appealing the conviction.
The JAA is confident that the current provisions of the Code will suffice irrespective of the outcome of the Zamel’s appeal; however, further amendments will be made if required.
The new version will include a revised section on comparative price advertising as well as the industry monitoring and Code administration sections.
Information sessions on the Code and consumer law are currently being developed and will be rolled out in the coming months.
A copy of the first annual report is available on the JAA website.
More reading:
Zamel’s guilty of misleading consumers - again
ACCC prosecutes Zamel’s for ‘misleading’ price ads – again