Conflict diamonds

Rennie & Co have always purchased their diamonds from legitimate sources that are not involved in funding conflict.  We actively co-operate with our suppliers to prevent conflict diamonds from becoming used in our jewellery.

 WHAT ARE CONFLICT DIAMONDS

Conflict Diamonds are diamonds whose trade funds conflict, civil wars and human rights abuses as well as bloody conflicts in Africa. Conflict Diamonds have also been used by terrorists groups to finance their activities and for money laundering purposes.

WHAT WE DO

• Rennie & Co buys polished diamonds only, and works on a continuous basis with carefuly selected diamond suppliers;
• Rennie & Co only buys diamonds from suppliers based in countries which have adhered to the Kimberley Process (see logo on the right);
• Rennie & Co suppliers are members of trade associations which adhere to a self- regulation system aimed at preventing trade in conflict diamonds;
• Rennie & Co has notified all of its suppliers that all diamonds polished after January 1, 2003 must be accompanied by a warranty stating that they do not sell conflict diamonds;
• Rennie & Co retains the warranties received for a five-year term.
  

WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO PREVENT THE TRADE OF CONFLICT DIAMONDS

In 1998, Global Witness and Partnership Africa Canada, two non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from the United Kingdom and Canada respectively, brought to the attention of the diamond industry and the world media that the illegal trade of rough diamonds was funding the activities of rebel organisations in Angola and Sierra Leone. The diamond industry immediately began co-operating with the United Nations and engaged with government and leading NGOs to seek ways to halt trade in conflict diamonds.

In May 2000, the South African Government convened a meeting in Kimberley for all interested parties to meet and discuss a way forward. These meetings have come to be known as the Kimberley Process. Over a period of two years following the meeting in Kimberley, an agreement on an International Certification Scheme was reached. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme requires that each shipment of rough diamonds being exported and crossing an international border be transported in a tamper-resistant container and be accompanied by a government-validated certification stating that the diamonds are not Conflict Diamonds (the "Kimberley Process Certificate"). Based on information provided by Global Witness in March 2004, the certification scheme was implemented by a wide majority of countries participating in the Kimberley Process (61 countries) starting from January 1, 2003.

European Community, which has implemented the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme on December 20, 2002 with its Council Regulation No. 2368/2002, is among members of the Kimberley Process.

The diamond industry reacted immediately, and in July 2000 the Federation of Diamond Bourses and the International Diamond Manufacturers Association - two entities representing the most important manufacturing and trading centres on a worldwide basis - created the World Diamond Council. This organisation gathers manufacturers, traders, governments and relevant international organisations and is aimed at ensuring that the restrictions for trade in conflict diamonds are applied.

In February 2003, the World Diamond Council published an "Essential Guide to Implementing the Kimberley Process" in order to promote a self-regulation system for the whole diamond industry aimed at restricting the trade in conflict diamonds. According to this guide, all jewellery retailers should:

• Require that all of their suppliers provide warranties for all polished diamonds;
• Inform suppliers in writing that they will require a warranty;
• Retain these warranties for at least five years.