Entering Germany with rough diamonds

Twenty years ago it became clear that the civil wars in Africa were being financed with illicitly mined diamonds known as conflict (or "blood") diamonds.

To stop the illegal trade in diamonds a number of diamond-producing states in southern Africa agreed on establishing an international certification scheme for the diamond trade. The Kimberley Process certification scheme (KPCS) entered into force in 2002. By now there are more than fifty states or associations of states, including the European Union, participating in it.

For the purposes of the certification scheme the European Union, including the territory of Greenland, is treated as a single area without internal borders and is regarded a single participating state. This state has a number of Community authorities whose responsibilities include the examination and inspection of the rough diamonds, and the issue and validation of (Community) certificates.

Rough diamonds may now only be exported or imported if certain conditions are met.

What must I know if I want to bring rough diamonds to Germany or the European Union?

Rough diamonds can in principle only be imported

• from states taking part in the Kimberley process, and
• after submission of a valid certificate that has been issued by the relevant participating state, and
• if the diamonds are kept in a container that has been sealed by a certifying body.

The certificate is a document that has been properly issued and validated by the competent authority in the participating state. It is this document which confirms that the requirements of the Kimberley process have been met.

The rough diamonds must then be presented to an authorised community body which inspects and validates the container and its certificate. You should therefore on entry promptly inquire at the nearest customs office which will guide you through the procedure.

There is a list of the countries participating in the Kimberley process and the contact details of the competent authorities in the "Participants, contact" area.

What must I know if I am only in transit through Germany or the European Union and am carrying rough diamonds?

Where transit journeys are concerned the first point to consider is whether the destination of your journey is another European Union country, for example, if you are changing planes at a German airport and then flying on to your final destination in the European Union, or whether you are merely passing through the European Union, for example, changing planes at a European airport and flying on to a destination outside the European Union.

If you are, in fact, only travelling through Germany but will remain in the European Union, the same conditions apply as when entering the European Union (see above).

If you are in transit through the European Union, then generally the same conditions apply as in the case of import, which require that the diamonds must be kept in a container that has been sealed by a competent authority, and that you present a valid certificate.

In this case, however, in principle you will not have to present the diamonds before a competent body if

• customs finds that neither the container nor the certificate have been tampered with, and
• the certificate clearly attests that the diamonds are transit goods.

Even if transiting Germany, though, you are advised to contact the nearest customs office.

Do I need a Kimberley certificate even for an insignificant quantity or value of rough diamonds?

Because the trade in illegally-mined rough diamonds shall be rigorously prevented, the conditions for bringing (i.e. the physical introduction of) rough diamonds into, or through, the territory of the European Union must always be complied with, irrespective of the value or quantity of the rough diamonds or the means of transport that you have chosen. Consequently, there are no thresholds on value or quantity allowances for rough diamonds.