(Rapaport…October 31, 2000) The Belgian government has created technology, which it claims will prevent diamonds produced in conflict zones from entering the legitimate trade.
According to the Financial Times, the technology is based on an electronic data exchange between Sierra Leone and Belgium. The data is electronically registered, encrypted and transmitted over a secure server to the importing country.
The process has been developed by the license department of Belgium’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and has been endorsed by the United Nations. It is being implemented in Sierra Leone.
The goal of this technology is to prevent conflict diamonds from being mixed with diamonds carrying a certificate of origin. Authorities will be assured that diamonds that have not been registered will not pass through official channels.