§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role Britain is playing in efforts to detect and prevent international diamond smuggling. [118162]
§ Mr. RammellThe European Community is a participant in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, an international agreement initiated by the UK and others, which regulates the international rough diamond trade in order to deal with the threat posed by conflict diamonds. Rough diamonds not accompanied by the appropriate certificate are now classified as prohibited goods in the UK.
The scheme is complemented by a voluntary system of self-regulation implemented by industry, which also covers the cut and polished sector.