About the Kimberley Process export applications
Under the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), all rough diamond shipments exported from Australia must be accompanied by a Kimberley Process Certificate (KPC).
A KPC certifies the conflict-free origin of the rough diamond product. The certificate must be obtained by the exporter prior to export.
The Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism (RET) is responsible for issuing KPCs (see Related documents).
The department has two systems under which they can be applied for:
Occasional exporters
Occasional export permits are suitable for applicants seeking to export a rough diamond shipment on 'one-off' or infrequent basis. These are assessed and granted on a shipment-by-shipment basis.
For permission to export a shipment of rough diamonds, the applicant should apply for a KPC by submitting a completed Occasional Exporter Application Form (see Related documents) to the department. Subject to the application being approved, the department will issue a KPC for the specified shipment.
Frequent exporters
Companies seeking to export rough diamonds on a frequent basis may apply to be licensed as frequent rough diamond exporters. These exporters are licensed to issue KPCs for shipments of Australian-origin product only, subject to a strict schedule of licence conditions.
Applicants should be advised that becoming licensed as a frequent exporter of rough diamonds is an involved process. Those considering applying for a frequent exporter licence should refer to the Frequent Exporter Application Form (see Related documents) and contact the department to discuss their requirements. Licences are valid for 12 months from the date of issue.
Australian Harmonised Export Commodity Classification (AHECC) codes
Diamonds subject to control are categorised within the Australian Harmonised Export Commodity Classification (AHECC) codes.
| Code | Description |
|---|
7102.10 | Unsorted, worked and unworked diamonds |
7102.21 | Industrial diamonds which are unworked or simply sawn, cleaved or bruted |
7102.31 | On-industrial diamonds which are unworked or simply sawn, cleaved or bruted. |
How to apply for a Kimberly Process Certificate
To apply for a KPC, exporters must:
- Select either the ‘occasional’ or ‘frequent’ permit category.
- Read the corresponding application form (see Related documents).
- Submit a completed application form, along with the required accompanying documentation as specified on the application form to the department. Please note that the supporting documentation must be provided at the same time the application form is submitted.
Tips for applying
- Applications require a current Australia-wide Criminal History Check (CHC) from the Australian Federal Police, which may take up to three weeks to complete.
- Original documentation (for example, a receipt of purchase) from the exporter may be required by the department when establishing proof of origin.
- Countries to which diamond products are exported from Australia to must be a participant in the KPCS. A current list of participants is available on the Kimberley Process website.
- The department undertakes to process complete applications within one week of receipt. However, time delays may result from the submission of an incomplete application. While all applications will be processed expeditiously, it is in the applicants’ own interest to ensure that all necessary information is provided as early as possible.
- It is the exporter's responsibility to have the Confirmation of Import Section of the KPC authenticated and returned expeditiously to the department.
Tips for exporting
- The rough diamond product must be exported in a tamper-resistant container.
- The KPC must be presented to the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service at least three hours prior to export so that the authenticity of the document can be verified and the export of the goods authorised.
- The KPC must accompany the shipment during transit and remain valid for that period. Australian KPCs are valid for 60 days from the issue date.
Related documents
More information
For more information about the export of rough diamonds from Australia contact the Minerals Development Section:
Minerals Development Section
Minerals Branch, Resource Division
Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism
GPO Box 1564
Canberra City, ACT 2601
Email: kp.export.australia@ret.gov.au
For more information about export and import logistics or for queries relating to the import of rough diamonds see the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service website.