The United Nations established the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme in cooperation with governments, human rights organisations, and the international diamond industry in 2000. This scheme is designed to prevent conflict diamonds from entering the marketplace through a globally recognised and widespread tracking system. Ratified in 2003 and now supported by 74 governments globally, this contract requires participating governments to keep a record of every rough diamond from when it is mined to its export.

Each participating government must meet these requirements:

- Rough diamonds travelling internationally must carry an authenticated Kimberley Process Certificate that's uniquely numbered, with the contents of the shipment clearly outlined.
- Certified diamond shipments may only travel between countries with participating governments.
- Certified diamond shipments must be transported in containers that are impervious to tampering.
- Sales of rough diamonds must be individually and privately audited.
- Each participating government must keep an accessible record of their diamond import and export activities, as well as their diamond values.
- Participating governments are subject to periodic reviews and monitoring of their diamond manufacturing and shipping processes.
- Participating countries found to be in breach of the contract may be sanctioned by the Kimberley Process.

The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme also encompasses the System of Warranties, which monitors the movements of diamonds once their certified international shipments have taken place. Each diamond will typically move between a merchant, cutter, polisher, jewellery maker and retailer, before it is finally sold to a consumer. Every time the diamond changes hands between these stages, each invoice issued must include a warranty that declares the diamond is conflict-free. These invoices must be kept on record for at least five years.