The Jewelers Vigilance Committee and the American Gem Trade Association are presenting “What You Need to Know About Irradiated Gemstones from the NRC” at the AGTA Gemfair, Tucson, Ariz., on Feb. 8. It will be held at 8:30 a.m. in the Leo Rich Theater in the Tucson Convention Center. The seminar will review the rules for distributing irradiated gemstones in the U.S.

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission official Joseph E. DeCicco, senior health physicist, Division of Materials Safety and State Agreements, Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management, will review regulatory requirements for trading in irradiated gemstones and answer questions. Also participating are Doug Hucker, AGTA chief executive officer, and Cecilia Gardner, JVC president and CEO.

The seminar is free and no registration is required. Light refreshments will be served.

In conjunction with the seminar, JVC and AGTA will publish “The Essential Guide to the Trade in Irradiated Gemstones.” The brochure will explain NRC rules and the industry’s compliance obligations, and will guide retailers to develop their own policies regarding trade in these gemstones. Seminar attendees will receive a copy of this guidebook.

“In late 2007, JVC worked closely with the NRC to re-establish clear channels of communication and will continue to represent the jewelry industry’s needs on the subject of distribution licenses and other matters pertaining to irradiated gemstones,” Gardner said.

JCK