KP FAQs

There are today 59 Government Participants in the KP, representing 85 countries. The European Union and its 26 member states counting as a single Participant, is represented by the European Commission.

Because the KPCS is operated at the national level, according to laws and regulations that are legislated and enforced in each country, the procedures used by different KP Authorities may differ from place to place. It is advised that the exporter contact the KP Focal Point for the country or region from which the rough diamond export is being made.

An up-to-date list of KP Focal Points is available on the WDC website at: KP Members

Rough diamonds may only be exported or imported from parties in KP Participant countries, and must be accompanied by an original KP Certificate, issued in the country of export. Imports of rough diamonds must be formally declared when entering a country, including any rough diamonds “hand carried” by passengers.

Import shipments of rough diamonds must be sealed in a tamper-proof container. Standard mailing and express consignment packaging, or such packaging that simply contains a resealable plastic bag, are not considered to be a tamper resistant.

Importers must notify the relevant foreign exporting authority of the receipt of the rough diamond shipment.

Importers of rough diamonds must retain a copy of the KP Certificate accompanying the shipment for a period of at least three years from the date of importation. This requirement may be longer in certain countries. Because the legal requirement may  differ from country to country, members of trade are encouraged to consult with their own KP Focal Points.

KP certificates are issued only for rough diamonds and checked at points of export and import. But members of the industry are also obliged to comply with the WDC System of Warranties (SoW), according to which all professional buyers and sellers of rough diamonds, polished diamonds and jewelry set with diamonds include a warranty statement on B2B invoices and memos each time a diamond changes hands, assuring the next buyer that it originated from conflict-free sources in compliance with the KPCS. The SoW is applied each time ownership of diamonds change hands, when they are exported or imported, and when they are sold without leaving country.

The most recently revised version of the SoW Declaration also confirms that the diamonds were handled in accordance with essential responsible business practices, including those relating to human and labor rights, anti-money laundering and anti-corruption.

According to the KP Core Document, KP certificates should be kept readily accessible for period of no less than three years. Some countries require that they be held for a longer period of time.

The requirements to maintain copies of invoices are subject to the laws of each country, but, according to the KP Core Document, all rough diamond buyers, sellers and exporters are encouraged to be required by law to keep for a period of five years daily buying, selling or exporting records, listing the names of buying or selling clients, their license number and the amount and value of diamonds sold, exported or purchased.

KP Offices are the facilities managed by the KP Authorities in any KP Participant countries or region (in the case of the EU), which in the case of an exporting country is authorized by the relevant government to issue KP certificates, and in the case of importing countries to verify KP certificates.

An up-to-date list of KP Focal Points is available on the WDC website at: KP Members.

Before the launch of the KPCS and WDC, the incidence of conflict diamonds in the distribution chain was estimated to be in excess of 4 percent. Within just five years of its rollout, the number of conflict diamonds in the legitimate trade had fallen to less two tenths of one percent.

Today, the only UN-recognized source of conflict diamonds is the Central African Republic (CAR), which is a minor producer that has been involved in a civil war since the end of 2012. In 2013, the KP embargoed all exports of rough diamonds from the nation, after rebels seized control of producing areas. In July 2015, KP agreed that the CAR could resume exports, as long they originated from which are under government control and are compliant with KP rules. A special KP committee monitors all approved rough diamond exports from the CAR.