Import of shipments of rough diamonds
Background information
During the 1990s it became clear that the civil wars taking place in Africa were principally being financed by illicitly-mined diamonds (“blood diamonds”). In order to prevent the illegal trade in diamonds and end the civil wars, a number of diamond-producing countries in southern Africa agreed to set up an international certification system for the diamond trade.
The Kimberley process regulations have been in force since 2002. By now more than fifty states, or associations of states, are participating in the process. Rough diamonds may therefore only be imported or exported under certain specified conditions.
What must be borne in mind when rough diamonds are sent to Germany by post from a non-EU country?
The import of rough diamonds, and also their dispatch, is in principle only permitted
- from states that are taking part in the Kimberley process, and
- where the consignment is accompanied with a valid certificate, and
- where the diamonds are in a container that has been sealed by the certifying body.
The Kimberley certificate is a document that has been properly issued and validated by the competent authority in the participating state. It is the essential document that confirms that the requirements of the Kimberley process have been met.
You will find a list of the states participating in the Kimberley process and the relevant contact details of the competent authorities in the Participants/Contact section.
Which particularities have to be applied to the shipment of rough diamonds?
Shipments that contain rough diamonds, whether sent by post or courier service, are delivered not directly to the addressee, but to the German Community authority, which is the certification body at the Idar-Oberstein customs office, where compliance with import provisions is checked. The customs office will send the addressee a written notification as soon as the shipment of rough diamonds has arrived.
Please be aware that the certificate approval and diamond inspection process results in costs that must be borne by the consignee.
Must the provisions of the Kimberley process also be observed for small quantities or shipments of minor value?
Yes. As the intention is to impose a strict prohibition on the trade in illicitly-mined rough diamonds, the conditions to be met under the Kimberley process must always be complied with irrespective of the quantity or quality of the rough diamonds. There are no value thresholds or quantity allowances for rough diamonds.
If you do not meet the conditions for import, your rough diamonds will be confiscated. Any infringement of the Kimberley process certification system is subject to administrative fines.
Specific rules applying to consignments of rough diamonds from Greenland
Greenland has been included in the Union system of certification and import and export controls for rough diamonds since 9 April 2014. This has opened up the possibility of importing rough diamonds from Greenland into the European Union. In this context, Council Decision No 136/2014/EU of 20 February 2014 lays down specific rules and procedures that enable Greenland to participate in the Kimberley Process.
