The Rio Tinto Diamonds’ Business Excellence Model (BEM) has been developed in India in 2003 for the Diamond and Jewellery Industry based on the various National and International standards such as ISO 9000, ISO 14000, OHSAS 18001 etc. With these standards, Rio Tinto seeks to ensure standards, similar to their own, in the companies with which it works. The BEM provides assurance that the companies cutting Rio Tinto-supplied diamonds are meeting appropriate standards, which, in turn, allows retailers and customers to be similarly assured.

The BEM offers a set of management tools to enable organisations to improve their performance. It also enhances standards in the Indian diamond and jewellery industry in four key areas:

• Social responsibility
• Health and safety
• Quality management
• Environmental standards

Intergold India Pvt. Ltd., an Indian entity of the Rosy Blue Group is participant in the BEM certification programme and is BEM compliant since 200524.

Since February 2010 Rio Tinto has communicated to discontinue with the BEM programme in its current form. As Rio Tinto is a founding member of the Responsible Jewellery Council, it requires all customers to become a Member of the RJC by the end of March 2010 and to meet all auditing obligations by the end of 2011.

This is also an important milestone in our industry as Rio Tinto clearly supports the RJC as the one main industry standard, in order to avoid duplication, maximise reach for the programme and provide clarity to consumers and the trade alike.

As Rosy Blue is a client from Rio Tinto and member of the RJC we are committed to meet all auditing obligations by the end of 2011.