All exports of precious metals and gemstones mined in Mozambique will be subject to the issuance of a certificate of origin, with effect from Friday, 20 August.
The launch ceremony of the Certificate of Origin and Packaging regime is scheduled to take place in the city of Chimoio, Manica province, this Thursday.
Castro Elias, executive secretary of the Kimberley Process Management Unit at the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy, told ‘Noticias’ that the introduction of the certificate and packaging regime is in compliance with the regulation on the marketing of diamonds, precious metals and gemstones approved through Decree 25/2015 of 20 November.
The introduction of the certificate seeks to conform transactions in these national products with international practices.
“The Certificate of Origin identifies the product as being from Mozambique, but it also assures buyers that the product was extracted taking into account all environmental requirements and human rights, and does not come from smuggling, because it is the government that is issuing the document,” Elias explained.
He said that, in the past, some national companies had had problems selling their mining products, especially in international markets where these documents are required, resorting to certificate holders from neighbouring countries to sell their products.
Also read: Mozambique: Intra Energy shares on the rise after updates on gold project
“It was like that because other countries already have specific certificates of origin for this group of minerals, like precious metals and gemstones. That is why it was necessary to introduce this instrument, with the creation in Mozambique of the Kimberley Precious Metals and Gems Process Management Unit, whose function is to implement Decree 25/2025 of 20 November,” the source explained.
He added that the launch of the Certificate of Origin and Packaging regime means that precious metals and gems must undergo evaluation by a technical team comprising multi-sector experts, who determine tax liability before sealing the product.
The packages will be specifically for export and bear a computerised number coinciding with the export authorisation and the certificate of origin.
“The packaging is inviolable. As soon as an assessment and identification is made, it is sealed. The only access you have is by cutting and removing the product it contains,” he elaborated.
Castro Elias pointed out that the introduction of these mechanisms offers many advantages, especially because everyone at airports, ports, borders will know that gemstones or precious metals for export need to be packed in a certain type of packaging.
In addition, the document that the person exporting carries must be issued by the Kimberley Process Management Unit of MIREME, with all the numbers matching.
