European Commission delays its diamond traceability initiative again; will come into effect on Jan 1, 2026

The European Commission’s mechanism for tracing imports of rough natural diamonds into the EU – which had been due to come into effect on March 1, has been postponed once again. The mechanism – which has been set up to combat the trade in conflict diamonds and reinforce sanctions against Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine, is now due to come into effect on January 1, 2026.

The latest delay was announced in an update on the EU’s adoption of a 16th round of sanctions against Russia which are designed to “further ramp up pressure on the aggressor” and is reflect its “unwavering commitment to a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.

The decision to postpone the system was welcomed by Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), the industry organization representing the interests of Belgian diamond companies, which said it was “an important signal, as it grants diamond companies the necessary time to thoroughly prepare for its implementation.”

Some diamond companies have already developed traceability systems for diamonds to tackle the illicit trade in conflict or blood diamonds, which are mined in war zones. Sustainability is also a big issue for consumers, who don’t want stones or jewellery that contribute to environmental degradation through depletion of natural resources, polluting practices or an impact on biodiversity impact, for example, and/or human rights and labour abuses.