The Kimberley Process is an international initiative aimed at breaking the link between legitimate trade in diamonds and conflict diamonds. The Kimberley Process was launched in May 2000 in the city of Kimberley, South Africa. It started out as a consultative process, later becoming a negotiating process which culminated in the adoption of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS). The KPCS sets an international benchmark for national certification schemes to be implemented by each Participant country through national legislation.
