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KP Basics

The Kimberley Process started when Southern African diamond-producing states met in
Kimberley, South Africa, in May 2000, to discuss ways to stop the trade in conflict
diamonds' and ensure that diamond purchases were not financing violence by rebel
movements and their allies seeking to undermine legitimate governments.

In December 2000, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a landmark resolution
supporting the creation of an international certification scheme for rough diamonds. By
November 2002, negotiations between governments, the international diamond industry
and civil society organisations resulted in the creation of the Kimberley Process
Certification Scheme (KPCS) . The KPCS document sets out the requirements for
controlling rough diamond production and trade. The KPCS entered into force in 2003,
when participating countries started to implement its rules.

Who is involved?

The Kimberley Process (KP) is open to all countries that are willing and able to implement
its requirements. The KP has 54 participants, representing 81 countries, with the
European Union and its Member States counting as a single participant. KP members
account for approximately 99.8% of the global production of rough diamonds. In addition,
the World Diamond Council, representing the international diamond industry, and civil
society organisations, such as Partnership-Africa Canada, participate in the KP and have
played a major role since its outset.

How does the Kimberley Process work?

The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) imposes extensive requirements (*)
on its members to enable them to certify shipments of rough diamonds as conflict-free'
and prevent conflict diamonds from entering the legitimate trade. Under the terms of the
KPCS, participating states must meet minimum requirements' and must put in place
national legislation and institutions; export, import and internal controls; and also commit
to transparency and the exchange of statistical data. Participants can only legally trade
with other participants who have also met the minimum requirements of the scheme, and
international shipments of rough diamonds must be accompanied by a KP certificate
guaranteeing that they are conflict-free.

The Kimberley Process is chaired, on a rotating basis, by participating countries. So far,
South Africa, Canada, Russia, Botswana, the European Union, India, Namibia, Israel, the
Democratic Republic of the Congo and the United States of America have chaired the KP,
and South Africa is the Chair in 2013. KP participating countries and industry and civil
society observers gather twice a year at intersessional and plenary meetings, as well as in
working groups and committees that meet on a regular basis. Implementation is monitored
through review visits' and annual reports as well as by regular exchange and analysis of
statistical data.

Composition
Chair: The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) imposes extensive
requirements (*) on its members to enable them to certify shipments of rough diamonds as
conflict-free' and prevent conflict diamonds from entering the legitimate trade. Under the
terms of the KPCS, participating states must meet minimum requirements' and must put
in place national legislation and institutions; export, import and internal controls; and also
commit to transparency and the exchange of statistical data. Participants can only legally
trade with other participants who have also met the minimum requirements of the scheme,
and international shipments of rough diamonds must be accompanied by a KP certificate
guaranteeing that they are conflict-free.
Members: States must meet minimum requirements' and must put in place national
legislation and institutions; export, import and internal controls; and also commit to
transparency and the exchange of statistical data. Participants can only legally trade with
other participants who have also met the minimum requirements of the scheme, and
international shipments of rough diamonds must be accompanied by a KP certificate
guaranteeing that they are conflict-free.
(*)The requirements for participation are outlined in Sections II, V (a) and VI (8,9) of the
KPCS.

History
2012 Trade with other participants who have also met the minimum requirements of the
scheme, and international shipments of rough diamonds must be accompanied by a KP
certificate guaranteeing that they are conflict-free.
2011 Under the terms of the KPCS, participating states must meet minimum
requirements' and must put in place national legislation and institutions; export, import and
internal controls; and also commit to transparency and the exchange of statistical data.
Participants can only legally trade with other participants who have also met the minimum
requirements of the scheme, and international shipments of rough diamonds must be
accompanied by a KP certificate guaranteeing that they are conflict-free.
2010 Under the terms of the KPCS, participating states must meet minimum
requirements' and must put in place national legislation and institutions; export, import and
internal controls; and also commit to transparency and the exchange of statistical data.
Participants can only legally trade with.






Chair
The Chair oversees the implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, the operations of the
working groups and committees, and general administration. The Chair rotates annually. The Vice Chair is
selected at the annual plenary' meeting and becomes Chair automatically the following year.
Kimberley Process Chairs Vice Chairs
2014 China Angola
2013 South Africa People's Republic of China
2012 The United States of America South Africa
2011 Democratic Republic of Congo The United States of America
2010 Israel Democratic Republic of Congo
2009 Namibia Israel
2008 India Namibia
2007 The European Union India
2006 Botswana The European Union
2005 The Russian Federation Botswana
2004 Canada The Russian Federation
2003 South Africa Canada



KP Participants and Observers
The following States and regional economic integration organizations with the exception of those indicated
with an asterisk (*), meet the minimum requirements of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme:

Angola
Armenia
Australia
Bangladesh
Belarus
Botswana
Brazil
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Central African Republic ***
China
Congo (DRC)
Congo (ROC)
Cte d'Ivoire **
European Union
Guyana
India
Indonesia
Israel
Japan
Kazakhstan
Laos
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Malaysia
Mali
Mauritius
Mexico
Namibia
New Zealand
Russian Federation
Sierra Leone
Singapore
South Africa
South Korea
Sri Lanka
Swaziland
Switzerland
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Turkey
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States of America
Venezuela *
Ghana
Guinea
Norway
Panama
Vietnam
Zimbabwe

NOTE:
The rough diamond-trading entity of Chinese Taipei has also met the minimum requirements of the KPCS.
* The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has voluntarily suspended exports and imports of rough diamonds
until further notice therefore the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela cannot trade in rough diamonds.
** Cote d' Ivoire is currently under UN sanctions and is not trading in rough diamonds.
*** The Central African Republic has been temporarily suspended. No exports and imports of rough
diamonds are allowed until further notice.

Working Groups and Committees
The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) has established a number of working groups abd
committees for carrying out its programs. These are: Working Group of Diamond Experts (WGDE), Working
Group on Monitoring (WGM), Working Group on Statistics (WGS), Working Group on Artisanal & Alluvial
Production (WGAAP), Committee on Participation and Chairmanship (CPC) and Committee Rules and
Procedures (CRP)
Working groups can be added according to the necessity of the work.