The Kimberley Process is a joint government, international diamond industry and civil society initiative to stem the flow of conflict diamonds - rough diamonds that are used by rebel movements to finance wars against legitimate governments. The trade in these illicit stones has contributed to devastating conflicts in countries such as Angola, Cote d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sierra Leone.
The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme is an innovative, voluntary system that imposes extensive requirements on Participants to certify that shipments of rough diamonds are free from conflict diamonds. The Kimberley Process is composed of 45 Participants, including the European Community. Kimberley Process Participants account for approximately 99.8% of the global production of rough diamonds.

Review Visit To South Africa In 2004
South Africa hosts the complete diamond pipeline, from extraction to retail sales of jewellery. This complexity is mirrored in the legislative framework and the implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) in South Africa. The Team came to the conclusion that South Africa is fulfilling in a satisfactory manner its undertaking under the KPCS but, as with other producers, it needs cooperation from other KPCS Participants for confirmation of imports.

South Africa has more than half of the industrially operated diamond mines in the world, and also has production from alluvial deposits and old tailings. South Africa is also home to a sizeable diamond cutting and polishing industry. Controls on the possession of rough diamonds are implemented through licensing of all dealers, buyers, diamond cutters and producers, under the Diamond Act of 1986. Regulations under the Act were amended in October 2002 for the purpose of implementing the KPCS. All exported and imported diamonds go through the South Africa Diamond Board (SADB). All details of diamond shipments are recorded on a computerized database at the SADB. The KP certificate is then automatically created and can be printed after the payment of dues is authenticated.