Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS)
The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) is a joint governments, industry and civil society initiative to stem the flow of conflict diamonds. It is designed to certify the origin of rough diamonds from sources which are free of conflict. It was set up to assure consumers that by purchasing diamonds they were not financing war and human rights abuses. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), is one of the world’s fast growing hubs for diamond trading, the UAE joined the KPCS in November 2002. The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) organized the campaign to join the KPCS as part of a larger effort to increase awareness about the conflict diamonds. The scheme was implemented in UAE in 2003 and it became the first Arab country to introduce the Process.
The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme is implemented in the U.A.E. by the Ministry of Economy and Commerce who delegated the authority to implement the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme in the U.A.E. to Dubai Multi Commodities Centre ‘DMCC’ as the only entry and exit point for rough diamonds in the U.A.E (for all of the seven Emirates).
The U.A.E. Federal Law that adapts and implements the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme is the ‘Union Law no.13 Regarding Supervision of Import/Export and Transit of Rough Diamonds.
***Trading in rough diamonds with non Kimberley Process members is a violation of the rules and regulations of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.
