Imports of rough diamonds

Imports of rough diamonds from third countries into the territory of the European Union or Greenland are currently possible via Belgium (Antwerp), the Czech Republic (Prague-Ruzyne), Ireland (Dublin), Italy (Turin, Rome), Germany (Idar-Oberstein, Nuremberg), Portugal (Lisbon) and Romania (Bucharest). These countries are home to the relevant EU authorities and carry out import controls and customs clearance of shipments of rough diamonds. Of course, imports are only allowed from the Kimberley Process Member States.

Importers can freely choose their point of entry in the EU or Greenland when importing rough diamonds.

Imports of rough diamonds must fulfil the enabling conditions set out in Article 3 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2368/2002 of 20 December 2002 implementing the Kimberley Process certification scheme for the international trade in rough diamonds. In addition to the basic conditions, a person intending to import rough diamonds into the territory of the Czech Republic must comply with the conditions laid down in Act No 440/2003 on the handling of rough diamonds, on the conditions for their import, export and transit, and amending certain acts.

BASIC CONDITIONS FOR IMPORTS OF ROUGH DIAMONDS FROM THIRD COUNTRIES

1.    Rough diamonds must be accompanied by a KP certificate validated by the competent authority of the KP member state.

2.    Rough diamonds must be sealed in containers resistant to forced opening and with the intact seals of the KP member attached when they are exported.

3.    The shipment of rough diamonds shall be clearly identifiable in the KP certificate.

If the above basic conditions for imports of rough diamonds from third countries are not met, imports into the territory of the European Union and Greenland shall be prohibited.

Each shipment of rough diamonds must first be submitted to the EU competent authority for verification upon import (information on EU competent authorities can be found here).

The EU competent authority shall assess whether the conditions for importing rough diamonds are met and, if it finds no deficiencies, shall validate the original KP certificate and the shipment of rough diamonds may be released for free circulation.

OTHER CONDITIONS FOR THE IMPORT OF ROUGH DIAMONDS INTO THE TERRITORY OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Registration of persons handling rough diamonds (§ 27–29 Act No 440/2003)

A person who imports rough diamonds for business purposes must have a general and specific registration. A person who imports rough diamonds for another purpose (e.g. collecting, investing) must have a general registration.

The designated customs office for submitting an application for a general and special registration and granting the registration itself is the  Customs Office in Prague, Washingtonova 1623/7, 110 00 Prague 1 ​​​.

Submission of a shipment of rough diamonds

The Customs Office in Prag, as the only customs office in the Czech Republic, may carry out customs clearance, i.e. decide to place a consignment of rough diamonds under the proposed customs procedure.

MOVEMENT OF ROUGH DIAMONDS BETWEEN EU MEMBER STATES AND THE TERRITORY OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC

As of 1 May 2004, shipments of rough diamonds from/to Member States of the European Union can be made in the same way as for other goods, i.e. no Kimberley Process certificate is required. However, in the case of handling rough diamonds (handling rough diamonds not enclosed in an intact container fitted with a seal), the consignee (sender) is subject to Act No 440/2003, in particular the area of registration and control.