The Kimberley Process (KP) is an international agreement between diamond-producing and trading countries (participants), representatives of civil society and industry that was negotiated to prevent conflict diamonds from entering into legitimate diamond trade. Conflict diamonds are those diamonds sold by rebel forces to purchase arms for use in conflict against legitimate governments. The KP came into force on January 1, 2003.
Under the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), all exports of rough diamonds must be accompanied by a certificate (issued by a participating government or an agency authorized by that government) confirming that shipments of rough diamonds are free from conflict diamonds. Trade in rough diamonds can only occur between participants. In order to be a participant, governments are required to have appropriate legislation in place that allows for adequate enforcement of the terms and conditions of the KPCS.
The Order Amending the Schedule to the Export and Import of Rough Diamonds Act has been updated and published in the Canada Gazette, Part II on March 3, 2021 to add additional countries.
Since the last amendment to the schedule on January 28, 2019, the list of participants to the KPCS has changed and, as of January 1, 2021, it will include 57 participants representing 83 countries/territories, including the European Union with its 27-member states. As a result of a consensus reached on the admission of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the KPCS during the KP plenary in November 2019, the latter country will be admitted to the KPCS on January 1, 2021 and must therefore be added to the schedule of the EIRDA.
The schedule to the Export and Import of Rough Diamonds Act is amended by adding the following countries: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Learn more on Importing and exporting rough diamonds.
CBSA Memorandum D19-6-4 Kimberley Process – Export and Import of Rough Diamonds
List of Countries Participants status 2021 here.