PAJ Receives NRC License

By JCK Online Staff -- JCK Online, 7/15/2008 11:47:00 AM

Prime Art & Jewel (PAJ, Inc.) was awarded a Materials License for Exempt Distribution of irradiated gemstones—particularly blue topaz.

PAJ Group received its official notification on July 9 from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. It claims to be the first U.S. jewelry wholesaler to receive NRC license for the distribution of Electron and Neutron Irradiated Gemstones.

Joe Corso, Radiation Safety Officer of PAJ, Inc. said the licensing process took nearly a year. After the initial application submission in September 2007, there was a consistent series of requests by the NRC reviewers for information and technical documents in supporting the company’s radiological surveys and procedures.

“Even though last year’s news of, ‘no license--- no sale’ of blue topaz caused many major retailers to pull blue topaz stock has quieted down; it still remains the law that distribution of irradiated gemstones to be done by licensed distributors,” PAJ said in a statement

Felix Chen, PAJ Group president, said he felt the securing its own license was most beneficial in serving its customers. The company also had the option of using one of three overseas processors with U.S. offices that are NRC compliant.

“In using third-party radiological contractors, PAJ Group was concerned of shipping delays and additional costs occurred by the outside contractors that may have to be pass-down to the customer,” Chen said. “By performing the radiological surveys ourselves we can eliminate any shipping delays and absorb the costs.”

PAJ Group holds both the Texas – Radioactive Material License, which allows the import and possession of irradiated gemstones, and the U.S. NRC – Exempt Distibution License, which allows exempt distribution of irradiated gemstones. The exempt distribution means that once PAJ Group ships their customer’s order (initial distribution), the gemstone jewelry would no longer be regulated—meaning that retailers and consumers would not need to be licensed.