Kimberley Process Certification Scheme

The Plenary meeting of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) was hosted by India from 18th to 22nd November, 2019 in New Delhi.

Kimberley Process (KP):

• 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.
• In 1998, certain rebel movements in Africa (Sierra Leone, Angola, D.R. of Congo, Liberia) were selling, among other things, illegally obtained diamonds – known as conflict diamonds – to fund their wars against legitimate governments.
• With a view to find ways to stop trade in conflict diamonds, world’s diamond industry, United Nations, Governments and leading NGOs came together and in November 2002 at Interlaken, where the final draft of the Kimberley Process measures were ratified by more than fifty nations. The KPCS came to into effect from 1st January, 2003 and evolved into an effective mechanism for stopping the trade in conflict 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 an international organization. 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.

Participants of Kimberley Process:

• The Kimberley Process (KP) participants are states and regional economic integration organizations that are eligible to trade in rough diamonds.
• As from November 2018, there are 55 participants representing 82 countries, with the European Community 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.

 Chair and Vice Chair:

• The chair oversees the implementation of The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) and operations of the working groups, committees and administration that activate The KP.
• The Vice Chair is selected at the annual plenary meeting and becomes Chair in the following year subject to ratification from KP participants.
• The position of Chair rotates annually, following validation of the previous Vice Chair.

India and KP:

• India is a founding member of KP.
• India has been actively involved in the development of KP as an important protocol in trade of diamonds which has ensured that 99.8% of the diamonds in the world are conflict free.
• The importance of KPCS is immense to India as more than one million people are directly employed by the diamond industry. The industry also plays pivotal role in sustaining livelihoods of these people. Currently, India exports around USD 24 billion cut and polished diamonds. It is expected that India will reach an export target of USD 1 trillion in coming years and the gem and jewellery sector particularly cut and polished diamonds will contribute significantly to achieve this target.
• Since 2003, India has been actively participating in the KPCS process and is a member of all Working Groups of KP (except for WGAAP). 
• Department of Commerce is the nodal Department and 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.