EGL USA recently invited 14 leaders from the jewelry retail, supplier, and marketing segments of the industry to join its newly formed Strategic Policy Council, which will address critical issues facing both EGL USA and the industry in general, EGL USA said in a statement.

The formation of the council, explained EGL USA CEO Mark Gershburg, was a result of the unprecedented growth of the lab industry in the past few years.

“As a major lab, we have a responsibility to help uphold consumer confidence. By working more closely together with all segments of the industry, we will be more effective and better prepared to face future problems,” Gershburg said in the statement.

At the first meeting, held recently in New York City, 12 council members, eight invited guests, and EGL USA management, discussed and prioritized the issues that will be the focus of the Council. These included: Identifying treatments; consumer education, industry standards, and cooperation among labs.

Lack of unified nomenclature on certificates, such as the use of words like “processed” vs. “treatment” was a hot topic. Council members strongly agreed that standardization is an important industry issue and that changes must come from the industry, not just from labs.

EGL USA Strategic Policy Council members are as follows:

Armand Asher, Albert Asher Pearl Company
Phyllis Bergman, Mercury Ring Corp.
Dov Biton, LID Ltd.
Leon Cohen, Codiam/Rand
Albert Gad, Diamond International
Mark Gershburg, EGL USA
Richard Grosbard, R&R Grosbard
Zvi Gutentag, Galaxy Diamond Inc.
Rodger Kadet, Rogers Enterprise
Moshe Klein, Julius Klein Diamonds, Inc.
Moshe Kraem, MK Diamonds & Jewelry
Mark Levinson, Levinson Jewelers
Dipu Mehta, Rosy Blue
Dale Perelman, Kings of Newcastle
Lynn Ramsey, Lynn Ramsey Public Relations

The council will meet bi-annually. For more information about the EGL USA Strategic Policy Council, contact Rachel Chanowitz at 917-855-5740.

JCK