The World Diamond Council (WDC), the body that represents the diamond industry in the Process Certification Scheme, has welcomed the “spirit of collaboration and open dialogue” with which participants at the 2017 KP Plenary Session discussed the proposed reforms and restructuring of the body set up to monitor the diamond supply chain and keep it free from conflict diamonds.

It said that “many important proposals have now been agreed to”, including the “consensus... reached on the creation of an Ad Hoc Review and Reform Committee”.

Other key discussions centred around the “need for a permanent secretariat, a crucial mechanism for strengthening the long-term implementation of KPCS”, with the WDC suggesting that the Secretariat should be based in a neutral country; and the strengthening of the Peer Review mechanism. The WDC said that the participants shared a vision for KPCS reform with the goal of making it a lasting reality and strengthening the KPCS minimum standards.

Stephane Fischler, Acting President of the WDC, said, “We have all agreed change is urgent and vital to meet consumer expectations and we look forward for the decisions made this week to be translated into meaningful progress.”

He added that the WDC was “saddened by IMPACT’s announcement today on their decision to leave the Civil Society Coalition (CSC), and therefore the KP family”, while welcoming their decision to “continue engaging with industry on our common goal to protect the integrity of the diamond value chain.”

Fischler concluded, “We realize that at the WDC we are an Observer, not a Participant. We don’t have a vote, but we do have a voice, and we intend to continue to use it. We look forward to the second of three years in this cycle of the KPCS review and you can count on the active participation and support of the WDC.”