The Withdrawal Agreement2 sets out the arrangements for the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (‘United Kingdom’) from the Union and from the European Atomic Energy Community (‘Euratom’).

The transition period set out in Part Four of the Withdrawal Agreement ends on 31 December 2020 when Union law ceases to apply to and in the United Kingdom.

Pursuant to Article 5(4) of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland to the Withdrawal Agreement, read in conjunction with Annex 2 to that Protocol, the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 2368/2002 apply to and in the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland. The Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland will become applicable at the end of the transition period.

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

By virtue of the adoption of the Administrative Decision ‘Admission of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme’ by Kimberley Process Participants at the Delhi Plenary in November 2019, the United Kingdom is admitted as a Kimberley Process certification scheme Participant, with such participation taking effect only from the date on which Union law ceases to apply to and in the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom should be added to the list of Kimberley Process Participants in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 2368/2002.

In addition, the addresses of the competent authorities of several participants in the Kimberley Process, found in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 2368/2002, require an update.

Article 19 of Regulation (EC) No 2368/2002 provides for a list of Union authorities to be maintained by the Commission in Annex III to that Regulation.

Following the request for designation of a Union authority pursuant to Article 19 of Regulation (EC) No 2368/2002 by Italy, the Commission met with the Union authority designated by Italy to verify its preparedness to assume the duties referred to in Regulation (EC) No 2368/2002. The preparations undertaken and the procedures envisaged by the Union authority designated by Italy suggest that it will be able to reliably, timely, effectively and adequately fulfil the tasks required by Chapters II, III and V of Regulation (EC) No 2368/2002. The relevant authority in Italy should therefore be added to the list of Union authorities in Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 2368/2002.

Following the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the Union and Euratom, the Union authority in the United Kingdom should be removed from the list of Union authorities in Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 2368/2002.

In accordance with Article 17(4) of Regulation (EC) No 2368/2002, the Commission shall list in Annex V each organisation that fulfils the requirements of Article 17. Following the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the Union and Euratom, the London Diamond Bourse and Club should be removed from the list of diamond organisations implementing the system of warranties and industry self-regulation, found in Annex V to Regulation (EC) No 2368/2002.

Annexes II, III and V to Regulation (EC) No 2368/2002 should be amended accordingly.

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.

To allow the Union’s implementation of the Kimberley Process certification scheme in relation to the United Kingdom as soon as possible, this Regulation should enter into force as a matter of urgency,