Botswana has been selected as the second certification node for rough diamonds in the ongoing effort to ensure ethical sourcing and traceability within the global diamond trade. This announcement follows the G7 nations’ efforts to curb the entry of Russian-origin diamonds into their markets.
On January 1, 2024, the G7 implemented an import ban on diamonds from Russia, which was expanded on March 1, 2024, to include Russian diamonds processed in third countries. On the same date, the first certification node capable of verifying the origin of rough diamonds and issuing G7 certificates began operations in the EU. Building on this, the G7 diamond technical team has strengthened its collaboration with Botswana to further enhance traceability and transparency in diamond exports.
To facilitate Botswana’s capacity to certify rough diamonds for export, the G7 and Botswana teams conducted a detailed gap analysis. This analysis evaluated the current systems and identified areas requiring alignment with the new G7 regulations aimed at preventing Russian-mined diamonds from entering G7 markets.
“Botswana and the G7 diamond technical team are now crafting a roadmap to address any identified gaps, aiming to have the export certification node fully operational in Botswana as soon as possible next year,” says the G7 technical team in a joint statement with Botswana.
According to the statement, the establishment of this node will reinforce Botswana’s position as a global leader in responsible diamond production. The certification node will also promote ethical practices throughout the diamond supply chain.
The G7 is also in talks with other African diamond-producing countries, including Namibia and Angola, to explore the possibility of establishing additional export certification nodes.
