WDC Endorses Kimberley Process Chair Decision on RoC

The World Diamond Council (WDC) says it welcomes the announcement by the Chair of the Kimberley Process that the Congo Republic (Congo-Brazzaville) has been expelled from the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme based on the results of a visit by its team of experts to that country last month.

 

The WDC expressed regret that any country should have to be expelled, but views the move as a “decisive step demonstrates that the KPCS process is robust and has teeth”.

WDC chairman and CEO, Eli Izhakoff, said, “A credible and effective KPCS is essential to the continued viability of the legitimate diamond trade and to the positive image and reputation of the product. These are core elements in the foundation of consumer confidence in diamonds as a symbol of love. The diamond industry fully supports the Chairman's decision”.

The KPCS fact-finding mission stated in a report that it found Congo was exporting diamonds at a rate approximately 100 times greater than its estimated production. Moreover, the report cited the inability of authorities to account for the massive discrepancy between the volume of exports on the one hand and of domestic production and imports on the other.

Given the explicit evidence, KP Chair Tim Martin felt it justified expelling the country immediately.