What is the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme?
The KPCS is a subset of the Kimberley Process (KP). It mandates that the countries involved in the KP use a certificate system by which rough diamonds are certified to have been mined in a conflict free environment. Each nation has their own version of a KP certificate, but there are certain requirements that the certificates must meet. There are only certain people who are allowed to issue the KP certificates in each nation. The certificates are all paper and have a unique numbered code on them. Once certified, the diamonds are sealed in a tamper-resistant container with the certificate, and the package is then transported in tact to a Kimberley Process compliant country. Upon receipt of the package, the importing country will inspect the seal and the certificate and report the number on the certificate and the quantity of carats. Here is an example of a KP Certificate for the European Commission: http://www.info-diamond.co.uk/rough/images/kimberley_process_en.
