AWDC calls upon industry to take strict measures to combat conflict diamonds

According to the AWDC, the Diamond Office experts recently detected a shipment likely containing conflict diamonds from the Central African Republic (CAR). In June 2013, the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KP) issued an export ban on rough diamonds originating from CAR. Owing to this ban, any import of rough diamonds coming from CAR, accompanied by a Kimberley Certificate from CAR will not be allowed to enter the Antwerp market and will be confiscated.

The AWDC and Antwerp diamond community has largely been reputed as the most transparent and strictly controlled diamond trade centre, with rigorous controls applied on all diamond imports and exports at the Antwerp Diamond Office. The AWDC reflects upon the detection of the parcel as a result of the increased vigilance and intensified controls it has employed, to combat conflict diamonds. Also, the city is determined to continue its strong commitment towards the Kimberley Process.

For this it has employed some strict vigilence - apart from the strict controls and the 100 percent physical control of every shipment entering or leaving Antwerp, the Diamond Office would scrutinize each suspicious shipment, comparing the contents of the parcels with the so-called ‘production footprints’ of mining operations in conflict areas. Rough diamonds that are imported legally in Antwerp via other diamond trade hubs will be cross-checked on typical characteristics such as color, assortment and size using visual material from a typical rough production of a certain area, such as the CAR. This enables the Diamond Office experts to assess if the dimaonds are likely originating from a specific conflict area.

Throuigh these measures, Antwerp intends sending out a strong message and prohibit conflict diamonds entering the Antwerp market. According to a recent report from the Enough Project, diamonds from CAR continue to enter certain countries through illegal channels and make their way into the legal circuit, mostly through forged KP certificates that are insufficiently controlled via other diamond hubs.

AWDC has urged all diamond centres to implement the same strict controls on import and export procedures and KP requirements, to enable the industry tackle the isse of conflict dimaonds.