FAQ

The Kimberley Process is an international certification scheme that regulates trade in rough diamonds. It aims to prevent the flow of conflict diamonds, while helping to protect legitimate trade in rough diamonds. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) outlines the rules that govern the trade in rough diamonds. The KPCS has developed a set of minimum requirements that each participant must meet. The KP is not, strictly speaking, an international organisation: it has no permanent offices or permanent staff. It relies on the contributions – under the principle of ‘burden-sharing' – of participants, supported by industry and civil society observers. Neither can the KP be considered as an international agreement from a legal perspective, as it is implemented through the national legislations of its participants.

The Kimberley Process (KP) participants are states and regional economic integration organisations that are eligible to trade in rough diamonds. There are 60 participants representing 86 countries, with the European Union counting as a single participant. The participants include all major rough diamond producing, exporting and importing countries. The diamond industry, through the World Diamond Council, and civil society groups are also integral parts of the KP. These organisations have been involved since the start and continue to contribute to its effective implementation and monitoring.

Nowadays, conflict diamonds account for less than 0.1% of the world’s diamond production, according to estimates from the Kimberley Process (KP) and the United Nations. The KP works in partnership with the United Nations to prevent these diamonds from entering the legal market.
Significant progress has been made in countries that previously experienced conflicts partially funded by diamonds, such as Sierra Leone, Angola, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Côte d'Ivoire. While much greater stability has been achieved, fragile situations persist, such as in the Central African Republic. It is crucial not to lose focus simply because the guns have fallen silent. The KP has created the potential for diamond wealth to support peace and prosperity in these regions, rather than fueling conflict. Promising outcomes are already visible: 2006 marked the DRC's best year for diamond exports since the stones were first discovered there over 100 years ago. In Sierra Leone, legal diamond exports have increased a hundredfold since the war ended in 2002, benefiting the estimated 10% of the population that relies on the diamond industry.

Participants in the Kimberley Process (KP) are states or regional economic integration organisations (currently the European Union) that have met the minimum requirements of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) and are, therefore, eligible to trade in rough diamonds with one another. The KPCS prohibits participants from trading with non-participants. Participants are often referred to as ‘members'. Observers are industry and civil society groups involved in the KP. These groups monitor the effectiveness of the certification scheme and provide technical and administrative expertise. There are currently four main Kimberley Process observers: the World Diamond Council (WDC), representing industry, the Civil Society Coalition (CSC), Diamond Development Initiative (DDI) and the African Diamond Producers Association (ADPA).

Although the Kimberley Process does not certify individual jewellers, reputable businesses should only buy from suppliers that can guarantee that their diamonds are conflict-free.

Ultimately, the success of the Kimberley Process is in the hands of consumers. We appreciate your effort to make sure that you are buying certified diamonds. The KP does not certify individual jewellers. However, a reputable business should be able to answer the following questions: How can I be sure your jewellery does not contain conflict diamonds? Do your diamond suppliers participate in the industry's ‘System of Warranties'*? Can I see a copy of your company's policy on conflict diamonds?

*The diamond industry has set up a 'System of Warranties' that complements, but is distinct from, the Kimberley Process. Find out more about the System of Warranties.

A country must meet the minimum requirements of the Kimberley Process (KP) as set out in the relevant sections of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) document, and submit its application to the Chair, who then requests the participation committee to consider it. The KP has a mandate from the United Nations to be inclusive and, in principle, all countries with a stake in the diamond business are encouraged to join. Under the scheme's requirements, KP participants may only import or export rough diamonds to or from other participants.

More information on the KP can be found in the documents section on this website, including the KPCS document itself and the third year review published at the end of 2006. Additionally, we recommend visiting the websites listed in the links section.

A number of researchers are working on different analytical techniques that could enable them to determine where an individual stone comes from. However, to date, there is no scientific consensus on the best methods. The Kimberley Process relies on administrative controls to track stones from mine to export, and subsequent trading. The Kimberley Process (KP) is investigating the possibility of detecting anomalies both from ‘footprinting' (study of the overall characteristics of production/exports) and ‘fingerprinting' (identification of individual stones) and how these methods might strengthen KP implementation.

Companies need a Kimberley Process (KP) certificate when they plan to export rough diamonds from a participant country if the diamonds fall under the relevant customs tariff (subheadings 7102.10, 7102.21 or 7102.31) in the schedule to the Customs Tariff. The exporting authorities in both country of export and the destination country require this certificate to verify that the exporter is meeting all KP requirements. The KP secretariat can help you in contacting the national KP authorities in your country. In order to strengthen the credibility of the agreement, the industry body, the World Diamond Council proposed that the industry create and implement a ‘System of Warranties' for diamonds. Under this system, which has been endorsed by all Kimberley Process participants, buyers and sellers of both rough and polished diamonds must make the following statement on all invoices: "The diamonds herein invoiced have been purchased from legitimate sources not involved in funding conflict and in compliance with United Nations resolutions. The seller hereby guarantees that these diamonds are conflict free, based on personal knowledge and/or written guarantees provided by the supplier of these diamonds." More detail on the related record-keeping arrangements and principles adopted by industry organisations are available at the following website.

The KP governs production and trade in rough diamonds only (HS codes 7102.10, 7102.21 and 7102.31). For further information on these classifications see the WCO website. Polished diamonds do not require a Kimberley Process certificate. Questions or uncertainties about HS codes should be raised first with the national authorities of the exporting country.