The Jewellers Association of Australia (JAA) has released the final draft of its Technical Guide – a 73-page reference document for its Jewellery Industry Code of Conduct.
The publication is designed to set standards and give guidance to retailers on technical industry matters as well as jewellery and jewellery-related products.
It contains information on materials including metals and gemstones, and jewellery and watch product knowledge incorporating details on various manufacturing methods.
“The guide has been realised in a final draft format for the industry to provide comment and suggest where improvements or additions can be made,” JAA Code of Conduct Committee chairman Colin Pocklington said.
“The guide will continue to be a work in progress as industry standards and practices change.”
The Code of Conduct was released in November 2009 and provides guidelines to help people working in the jewellery industry comply with consumer law. All JAA members are required to adhere to the code.
A committee set up to manage potential breaches by members and non-members has assessed 26 complaints between 2012 and 2015.
As previously reported by Jeweller, the committee has assisted the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) with investigations into misuse of comparative price advertising, otherwise known as “two-price advertising”, including one case at the start of the year.
Pocklington said comments and suggestions received by mid-July 2016 would be referred to the JAA National Industry Advisory Council for consideration. If changes or additions are deemed necessary, an updated version of the guide will be released in October or November.
The Code of Conduct and Technical Guide can be viewed on the JAA website.
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