We would like to tell you about the importance and indisputable contribution of the Kimberley Process to the history of the diamond industry.
In connection with the critical situation on the market and the appearance of so-called "bloody" diamonds supplied from conflict zones sponsoring military conflicts, hostilities and terrorism, in December 2000, the ONN assembly held a meeting of representatives of diamond mining companies and trading countries to discuss the important issue of combating the penetration of such stones into the market.
During the meeting, the first resolution on the establishment of an international certification system for rough diamonds was adopted, and in November 2002, the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) was created, containing mandatory requirements for regulating the control of the diamond mining industry and trade.
The main provisions of certification provide for the mandatory availability, for each batch of diamonds entering the market, a certificate confirming its extraction outside the conflict zone.
Only with a certificate, shipments of diamonds can cross the border.
The member States of the KP should conduct trade relations only legally, fulfilling the requirements of the regulations on international transportation of rough diamonds, only if there are certificates guaranteeing full "transparency" of stones for the correct exchange of statistical data.
The Kimberley Process has more than 50 participants representing 81 countries, including EU countries and States.
It is important to note that in addition to the main tasks, this project was able not only to eradicate the problem of penetration into the market of "conflict" diamonds, but also to contribute to the positive development of the economy of poor countries by creating conditions for the trade of legally acquired precious stones.
Such a mechanism reduced the chances of a consumer meeting with conflict stones to zero.