The US has formally accepted the ban on jadeite and rubies entering the country from Myanmar (formerly Burma), as the The “Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE Act of 2008” was implemented on September 29. The Act is soon to be implemented by vatrious US government authorities Homeland Security, Customs, State, Treasury and the US Trade Representative. For all other non-Burmese rubies imported into the US, the US Customs and Border Protection have introduced the Harmonized Tariff System codes required to be accompanied with the stones.

The ban on the Myanmar rubies and jadeites applies to all stones that have their origins in Burma irrespective of being transformed in Thailand or any other place. It does not restrict the entry of Burmese jadeite or rubies imported for personal wear by the importer. The Act does not cover any regulations on the US sales of the Burmese jadeite or rubies currently in the US and US retailers have a free hand at selling the stones already in the US.