Update: Retirement of the SCS-007 Sustainably Produced Gemstones Certification Standard

August 26, 2026

SCS Global Services and SCS Standards and Assurance are retiring the SCS-007 Sustainably Produced Gemstones certification scheme and program, effective 1 September 2026.

The development of this standard was a partnership between the two organizations. SCS-007 was launched to bring independent, product-level verification to the sector. The standard set a high bar for environmental, social, governance, climate, and traceability performance, backed by third-party audit.

Since launch, the market conditions needed to support the voluntary standard at scale have not materialized. Certification was not adopted by the mining sector, and no clear regulatory path exists for product-level chain-of-custody claims across an increasingly fragmented supply chain.

SCS Standards very carefully considered SCS Global Services’ feedback and market experience as the sole approved certification body for the scheme. Jointly, the decision was made to retire the program: SCS Global Services will no longer audit to the standard, and SCS Standards will no longer maintain the standard.

Currently certified companies may continue to use their certification through its existing expiration date. Individual diamond certificates remain accessible at https://www.sustainabilityrateddiamonds.com/find-your-certificate.

SCS Global Services and SCS Standards remain committed to continuing work in other impactful venues. SCS Standards is open to partnering with existing industry schemes that want to build on the rigorous chain-of-custody framework SCS-007 established.

Questions about a specific certification can be directed to Rachel Barnhart, Director of Corporate Communications and Public Relations, at [email protected].