Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 622/2013 of 25 June 2013 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 2368/2002 implementing the Kimberley Process certification scheme for the international trade in rough diamonds

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2368/2002 of 20 December 2002 implementing the Kimberley Process certification scheme for the international trade in rough diamonds (1), and in particular Article 20 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 2368/2002 lists the participants in the Kimberley Process (‘KP’) certification scheme and their duly appointed competent authorities.

(2) On 23 May 2013, the KP Chair issued a notice confirming that, by written procedure, the KP Participants decided to refrain from sending or receiving rough diamond shipments from the Central African Republic until such time that clarity is provided on the country’s ability to ensure compliance with KP minimum standards.

(3) Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 2368/2002 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(4) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the committee referred to in Article 22 of Regulation (EC) No 2368/2002.

(5) In order to ensure that the measures provided for in this Regulation are effective, it should enter into force immediately,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 2368/2002 is replaced by the text set out in the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 25 June 2013.

For the Commission, On behalf of the President, Catherine ASHTON Vice-President

(1) OJ L 358, 31.12.2002, p. 28.