Transporting diamonds in Belgium: what’s allowed and why it matters for your insurance

Transporting diamonds is subject to strict legal, customs and VAT rules. Whether you carry the goods personally to a trade fair or ship them to a client, compliance is essential.

Failure to follow the correct procedures can lead to delays, penalties, temporary seizure of goods and in some cases, insurance complications.

Below, we clarify the two legally recognised transport methods and what they mean for you as a diamond professional.

Two ways to transport diamonds

Belgian legislation recognises two distinct transport methods:

• Personal transport
• Certified high-value transport (professional B2B shipping)

Understanding the difference is crucial.

1. Personal transport of diamonds

Personal transport is allowed, provided all legal, customs, VAT and security requirements are strictly respected.

This applies when you physically carry the diamonds yourself, for example:

• Travelling to a trade fair
• Visiting clients
• Personally transporting diamonds across borders

However, personal transport is not a transport service to third parties. It remains your own responsibility.

Within the EU

When transporting diamonds between EU Member States, you should always carry:

Essential documents

• Invoice or consignment note (proving ownership, value and purpose of transport)

Strongly recommended

• Correspondence with the receiving party (e.g. trade fair organiser or client)
• Proof of travel (plane or train tickets)
• A signed destination document confirming delivery

Why is this important?
In B2B intra-EU sales, VAT is often exempted. If tax authorities verify the exemption later, you must prove the diamonds physically left Belgium and were delivered abroad.

From non-EU into the EU

If you personally transport diamonds from outside the EU into Belgium, additional customs requirements apply:

• Customs declaration at the EU point of entry
• Electronic transit declaration to the Diamond Office in Antwerp
• A VAT guarantee (typically 21%) at entry
• Import declaration at the Diamond Office
• Invoice or consignment note (mandatory)

For rough diamonds, a valid Kimberley Process Certificate (KPCS) is required, and the goods must be transported in sealed, tamper-resistant packaging.

From Belgium to a non-EU country

Exports remain tax-free, but customs formalities are mandatory:

• Declaration at the Diamond Office before export
• Declaration at customs when exiting the EU

For rough diamonds:

• A Belgian-issued Kimberley Process Certificate is mandatory
• Transport must occur in sealed, tamper-resistant containers

Additional reminders

• Cash amounts of €10,000 or more entering or leaving the EU must be declared.
• Always verify that your insurance policy covers:
  • The full value of the diamonds
  • The countries you travel to
• Check local laws in the destination country. Some countries prohibit personal transport above certain values.

2. Certified high-value transport (professional B2B shipping)

When diamonds are transported as a service - for example, when shipping goods to a client - Belgian law is clear:

Only certified high-value transport companies may be used.

This includes recognised providers such as:

• Malca Amit
• Brinks
• Ferrari

In a B2B shipping context, diamonds may NOT be transported:

• By private vehicle
• By public transport
• Via standard courier services (bpost, UPS, GLS, Micropakket, etc.)

FedEx is only permitted when operating through a certified high-value transport partner.

In short: If you are not carrying the diamonds personally, certified high-value transport is mandatory.

Why compliance matters for your insurance

Non-compliant transport exposes you to:

• Regulatory and customs penalties
• VAT disputes
• Liability risks
• Insurance complications or refusal of coverage

Most diamond insurance policies explicitly require compliance with transport regulations.

If legal requirements are not respected, insurers may not be able to intervene — even when the policy itself is active.

In the diamond trade, compliance is not optional. It is often a condition of coverage.

In summary

• Personal transport is permitted, under strict legal and documentary conditions
• Professional B2B shipping requires certified high-value transport
• Customs, VAT and Kimberley Process rules must be respected
• Insurance coverage depends on compliance

How S.W.I.S. insurance supports diamond professionals

At S.W.I.S. Insurance, we specialise in diamond and high-value goods insurance.

We are happy to:

• Review your transport practices
• Verify alignment with legal requirements
• Ensure your diamond policy reflects real-world operations
• Help you avoid gaps that could affect coverage

Because in the diamond industry, protection starts long before a claim.

Feel free to contact us for a review of your current policy and transport procedures.