About Kimberley Process (KP):
- It is a coalition of governments, civil society and the diamond industry to eliminate the trade in so-called conflict diamonds.
- Conflict diamonds are defined by the relevant United Nations Security Council resolution (UNSC resolution 1459) as “rough diamonds used by rebel movements or their allies to finance conflict aimed at undermining legitimate governments”.
- Based on a mandate from the United Nations, the Kimberley Process regulates the international trade in rough diamonds.
- Participants in the scheme are required to:
- Satisfy ‘minimum requirements’ and establish national legislation, institutions and import/export controls;
- Commit to transparent practices and to the exchange of critical statistical data;
- Trade only with other participants in the Scheme;
- Certify shipments as conflict-free.
- Currently it has 60 participants, representing 86 countries (with the EU as a single participant) which account for more than 99% of the global rough diamond production and trade.
- The KP meets twice a year at the Intersessional and Plenary meetings. It is chaired by a participating country on an annual, rotating basis.
- As a consensus-based body, the KP relies on the constructive engagement from all participants of the tripartite structure.
What is the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS)?
- It is the mechanism the KP uses to prevent the trade of conflict diamonds.
- Under this scheme, the Government implements safeguards on shipments of rough diamonds and certifies the diamond as conflict-free.
- According to this Scheme, each rough diamond shipment must be accompanied by the Kimberley Process certificate and transported in a tamper-resistant container.
- The KP certificate states the authenticity of the rough diamond.
- Since 2003, India has been actively participating in the KPCS process.
- The Department of Commerce is the nodal Department.
- Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) is designated as the KPCS Importing and Exporting Authority in India.
- GJEPC is responsible for issuing KP Certificates and is also the custodian of KP Certificates received in the country.
