Starting in April 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will enforce new rules requiring diamond importers to provide more detailed information about the origins of their stones. This significant shift, aimed at preventing Russian diamonds from entering the U.S. market, will impact both loose polished diamonds and finished jewelry.
As part of a broader initiative led by the United States and other G-7 nations, diamond importers will soon be required to specify not just that their diamonds did not come from Russia but the actual country where they were mined. This change builds on a series of evolving regulations that have been in place since March 2024, when the U.S. first mandated that diamonds weighing 1 carat or more must be certified as non-Russian.
The new rules will expand the certification requirements even further, including diamonds of 0.5 carats and above, as well as finished jewelry. Importers must now submit a declaration stating that their diamonds were neither mined nor manufactured in Russia. This certification must be accompanied by supporting documents, such as mining certificates or proof of origin, to demonstrate compliance.
The most notable update will be a new “country of mining” field in the Automated Customs Environment (ACE) manifest. Importers will need to fill out this section with specific details about where the diamonds in their shipment were sourced. While CBP is not requiring additional documents upfront, companies are encouraged to have relevant paperwork ready. This could include Kimberley Process certificates, purchase orders, and certificates of origin.
If customs decides to spot-check a shipment, importers must be prepared to provide this additional documentation. Importers should also note that multiple countries of mining can be listed on a single entry, but each country will need to be separately documented and verified.
Although CBP has provided clarity on several aspects of the new requirements, some uncertainties remain. For instance, it has not yet been confirmed if diamonds smaller than 0.5 carats will be subject to the new country-of-mining certification. However, based on current regulations, it is presumed that only diamonds 0.5 carats and larger will need to meet these new requirements.
Another question that remains unanswered is the fate of legacy diamonds—those exported from Russia before the March 1, 2024, sanctions came into effect. Importers of these “grandfathered” diamonds are still waiting for clear guidance on whether they will also need to provide country of mining information.
While CBP has indicated that the new requirement will be enforced starting in April 2025, experts are advising importers to prepare for the possibility that the change will take effect as early as April 1, 2025.
This shift represents a significant step toward greater transparency in the diamond supply chain, aiming to ensure that U.S. consumers are not unknowingly purchasing diamonds tied to unethical practices. As the jewelry industry navigates these evolving regulations, importers are encouraged to stay informed and ensure they have the necessary documentation ready for smooth compliance.
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