Canada (2003) Central African Republic (2003) China (2003) Democratic Republic of the Congo (2003) Côte d'Ivoire (2003) European Union (2003) Eswatini (2011) Gabon (2018) Ghana (2003) Guinea (2003) Guyana (2003) India (2003) Indonesia (2005) Israel (2003) Japan (2003) Kazakhstan (2012) Laos (2003) Lebanon (2003/2005) Lesotho (2003) Liberia(2007) Malaysia (2003) Mali (2013) Mauritius (2003) Mexico (2008) Namibia (2003) New Zealand (2006) Norway (2003) Panama (2012) Republic of the Congo (2003/2007) Russia (2003) Sierra Leone (2003) Singapore (2004) South Africa (2003) South Korea (2003) Sri Lanka (2003) Switzerland (2003) Tanzania (2003) Thailand (2003) Togo (2003) Turkey (2007) Ukraine (2003) United Arab Emirates (2003) United Kingdom (2021, previously a member as part of the European Union) United States (2003) Venezuela (2003, withdrew in 2008, re-admitted in 2016) Vietnam (2003) Zimbabwe (2003) Applicants The following countries have expressed interest in joining the KPCS, but have yet to satisfy the minimum requirements: Burkina Faso Chile Kenya Kyrgyzstan Mauritania Mozambique Qatar Uzbekistan Zambia Waiver The World Trade Organization (WTO) in December 2006 approved a waiver for the KPCS while recognizing the importance and effectiveness of the KPCS. Chairs The following is a list of the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme's chairs and vice chairs. The chair oversees the implementation of the program, the operations of the working groups and committees, and general administration. The chair rotates annually. The current chair of KPCS is the nation that held the position of vice chair the previous year. 2003: South Africa; vice chair Canada 2004: Canada; vice chair Russian Federation 2005: Russian Federation; vice chair Botswana 2006: Botswana; vice chair European Commission 2007: European Commission; vice chair India 2008: India; vice chair Namibia 2009: Namibia; vice chair Israel 2010: Israel, Mr. Boaz Hirsch; vice chair DRC 2011: DRC, Mr. Mathieu Yamba; vice chair United States 2012: United States, Ambassador Gillian Milovanovic; vice chair South Africa 2013: South Africa, vice chair China 2014: China, vice chair Angola 2015: Angola, vice chair United Arab Emirates 2016: United Arab Emirates, vice chair Australia 2017: Australia, vice chair European Union 2018: European Union, vice chair India 2019: India, vice chair Russian Federation 2020: No chairmanship due to Covid-19 2021: Russian Federation, vice chair Botswana 2022: Botswana, vice chair Zimbabwe The DRC's position as the 2011 KPCS chair is notable, in that it had been a known source of conflict diamonds and other minerals in recent years. Statistics KPCS emphasizes collecting and publishing data relating