The trade in these illicit stones has contributed to devastating conflicts in countries such as Angola, 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 43 Participants, including the European Community. Kimberley Process Participants account for approximately 99.8% of the global production of rough diamonds.