Import and Export of Diamonds between Belgium and Countries Outside the European Union
Diamond traders doing business in Belgium need to comply with the requirements and formalities under Belgian and EU law for the import and export of diamonds between Belgium and countries outside the European Union.
Below you find an overview of the restrictions and formalities under Belgian and EU law depending on the country of origin or provenance and the country of destination.
The requirements and formalities set out below apply regardless of whether the traded diamonds are to be incorporated in jewellery or used for industrial purposes.
Obligations under Belgium Law
Registration
Diamond traders trading diamonds in Belgium with the following HS Codes:
71021000, 71022100, 71022900, 71023100, 71023900, 71042100, 71049100, 71051000 need to register at the Licence Service of the Federal Public Service Economy. The contact details of the Licence Service can be found in the contact list.
(The Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS) of tariff nomenclature is an internationally standardized system of names and numbers for classifying traded products developed and maintained by the World Customs Organization (formerly the Customs Co-operation Council), an independent intergovernmental organization with over 170 member countries based in Brussels, Belgium)
Import and Export Formalities
When importing diamonds into or exporting from the EU, diamond traders must declare to the Diamond Office the value, weight, classification and documented origin or provenance of the diamonds for import or export. Experts at the Diamond Office subsequently perform, under the supervision of the Licence Service of the Federal Public Service Economy in Antwerp a physical check of the diamonds for import or export.
In addition, import into and export from the European Union of diamonds or gems, not mounted or set (HS-codes 71021000, 71022100, 71022900, 71023100, 71023900, 71042100, 71049100, 71051000) are subject to be submitted to customs.
Annual declaration of stocks and activities
Diamond traders need to file with the Licence Service of the Federal Public Service Economy an annual declaration of stocks and activities, indicating the value, weight and classification of the diamonds in stock and/or consigned to brokers or manufacturers at the end of the fiscal year. Furthermore, they need to provide information on the opening stock, diamonds purchased and sold in Belgium, imported into and exported from Belgium and worked in Belgium or abroad.
