Canadian Jewellers Association (CJA)
Standards of Professional Conduct
1. APPRAISALS
a. CJA members should adhere to the guidelines set forth by the JVC, CJA,
Industry Canada and the Insurance Bureau of Canada as outlined in the
Jewellery Appraisal Guidelines Minimum Acceptable Standards (Revised
Edition 2009).
2. DIAMONDS, GEMSTONES AND PEARLS
a. Members should make every effort possible to ensure that they only participate in the flow of legitimate diamonds and do not deal in Conflict Diamonds. Members
are required to put the following warranty on all invoices containing rough or
polished diamonds and jewellery containing diamonds:
"The diamonds herein invoiced have been purchased from
legitimate sources not involved in funding conflict in compliance
with United Nations Resolutions. The seller hereby guarantees
that these diamonds are conflict free, based on personal
knowledge and/or written guarantees provided by the supplier of
these diamonds."
b. Members should abide by the Canadian Guidelines with Respect to the Sale
and Marketing of Diamonds, Gemstones and Pearls (Revised Edition 2009).
c. A sealed container should not be used by a Member to deliver gems under
warranty that becomes void if the seal is broken.
d. Members should abide by the standards of any nationally recognized gemstone
grading system should they wish to utilize its prescribed classification process.
3. PRECIOUS METALS
a. Members should adhere to all parts of the Precious Metals Marking Act.
b. For precious metal articles that have been quality marked, Members should be
certain that such an article has been validly registered as a Canadian trade-mark
with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office or that an application for same has
been made. This application should follow the same method as the quality mark.
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4. BUSINESS AND MARKETING PRACTICES
a. Members should comply with all Anti-Money Laundering Acts, Regulations and
Guidance documents and have a compliance strategy in place within their
operations.
i. Members should refer to the CJA/JVC Anti-Money Laundering
Compliance Kit.
b. Members should provide safe and healthy working conditions for all employees.
Appropriate procedures should be in place to prevent accidents and health
issues directly related to the activities and site operations of a facility.
c. In the promotion and sales of merchandise, Members should not defame,
criticize, undermine or take unfair advantage of another person or company’s
reputation or merchandise.
d. Members should not discriminate based on race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability with respect to the employment of their staff or in dealings with
customers.
e. Members should not reference the CJA, through any means of advertising, to
convey or imply to potential consumers that the Association endorses or
guarantees the quality and legitimacy of the merchandise for sale.
f. Members’ selling and advertising practices should be in compliance with the
rules and guidelines set forth by the Canadian Competition Bureau in the
Competition Act.
g. Members selling products should comply with the applicable Canadian Health
and Safety Regulations and Legislation.
5. CJA LOGO STANDARDS
a. Members are permitted to use the official CJA logo and refer to themselves as
“Member Canadian Jewellers Association” in various advertising initiatives.
Statements such as “Charter Member” are strictly prohibited.
i. Members should limit the size of the CJA logo or other references to
the membership to ensure that the document does not appear to be
in conjunction with or on the behalf of the CJA.
ii. The name or logo of the advertiser should be more prominently
featured (either in bold type or larger font) than the reference to the
membership.
b. Members are permitted to us the CJA slogan, CJA A Sign of Trust, and logo in
advertising initiatives.
c. Affiliate members are not permitted to use the CJA logo for any reason and are
responsible for including the word “Affiliate”, in the same or larger font size,
whenever the term “Member” is used in reference to the CJA.
d. Members under CJA’s one-year probation period should not use the CJA logo or
slogan in any advertising initiatives unless the Board of Directors grants special
permission.
Call For More information 905-566-5583
