(Rapaport…November 04, 2003) The Czech Republic will soon re-appear on the Kimberley Process (KP) list of participants. On October 31, the Czech parliament approved a law enforcing the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. The Czech Republic was removed from the KP list on July 31, 2003 for failing to introduce the necessary legislation.
The Czech Gemological Association (CGA) has worked hard to convince its parliament of the importance of the KP Scheme. With the approval of parliament, the most critical milestone has been crossed in the legislative process. The law has still to be ratified by the senate and then signed by President H. E. Vaclav Claus.
Michal Koselja, Executive Director of the CGA expects that the law will be effective from January 1, 2004.