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Obligations under Belgian law
Registration
Diamond traders trading diamonds in Belgium with the following HS Codes[1] 71021000, 71022100, 71022900, 71023100, 71023900, 71042000, 71049000, 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.
1 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 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, 71023100, 71022900, 71023900, 71031000, 71039000, 71039900, 71041000, 71042000, 71049000, 71051000, 71059000) are subject to an import or export licence to be submitted to customs.
The import and export licences are issued by the Licence Service of the Federal Public Service Economy to diamond traders or to the Diamond Office on their behalf. Blank application forms can be obtained at the Diamond Office or the Licence Service of the Federal Public Service Economy.
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.