Brussels, 11/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday, the Council adopted regulation allowing for a system of diamond certification to take effect. Put in place in the framework of the "Kimberley Process", this world certification system is intended to combat the trafficking in diamonds to finance conflicts in Africa. In December, the Council had already adopted a regulation that put the system in place, but had suspended its implementation while awaiting for the certification formulas to be ready. These certificates will be issued by two bodies, in London and Antwerp, which host 90% of the trade in diamonds in Europe. As we stand, 42 countries (EU counting for one) are part of the process. the United States is a member in principle, but Congress has not yet adopted the necessary legislation. Due to that, its exporters will be able to benefit from certificates, but only provisionally. The conference of participants in the process meeting in Johannesburg in April, "will be the hour of truth: if the United States has not done the necessary, it could be excluded from the system", Commission sources note.