Procedure for export of gems and jewelry

All gem and jewelry exports should be chanelled through the Export Division of the National Gem and Jewelry Authority, at No.25, Galle Face Terrace, Colombo 03 or Gem Center - Ratnepura or Diamond Export Center, Cargo Village, Air Port - Katunayake.

1. The prospective exporter should obtain a Gem Dealers Licence (This licence could be obtained for varying amounts depending on the maximum stock you will hold at any given time) to cover the value of the merchandise to be exported.
   
   
2. Exporters who wish to export their Gems and Jewelry should bring their goods to the Export Department - National Gem and Jewelry Authority along with following documents before 3.00pm on all working days & 12.00 noon on Saturdays. Eight (08) copies of Commercial Invoice, which are to be used as follows
   
   1. Export Manager - Original
   2. Sri Lanka Customs - 2nd copy
   3. NGJA statistics division - 3rd copy
   4. 4th copy to be used to make relevant payments to NGJA
   5. Statistics division - Customs
   6. 6th to 8th copies are released to the exporter. They are used to obtain insurance cover for air mail / air freight purposes, GSP certificate (Gem Certificate), Carnet Certificate and a copy to be retained by the exporter.
   
   
3. Invoice
   The following details should be given in the invoice.
   
   1. Exporters name and address
   2. Buyers name and address
   3. Buyers bank address
   4. Terms of payment
   5. Exchange rate prevent on the date of export
   6. Total F.O.B. value
   7. Insurance
   8. Freight
   9. Total C.I.F. value
   10. In case of jewelry, complete break up of the item should be given(weight and karattage of metal, variety & weight of stones)
   
   
4. when the Invoices are presented to the Export Office, a number will be allocated to each invoice. Then the exporter will be called upon to hand over his goods to the Export Manager / Assistant Manager. Items will be individually weighted, cross checked with the invoice and accepted for export and will be sealed temporarily till it is submitted for examination. Invoices should be handed over to the officials, who will check the calculations and the entries.
   
   
5. The parcel will be examined at the Examination table by National Gem and Jewelry Authority gemologist / valuer and customs gem appraiser / gemologist in the presence of the exporter or his/her representative. The examination is carried out to ensure the export of genuine gems and to avoid under or over invoicing. After examination the parcel will be sealed with sealing wax by the NGJA official, customs official and the exporter. Exporter is advised to bring his own seal, tin box and brown paper for this purpose. If any synthetic stones are detected and if they are not declared in the invoice as synthetic stones, these will be confiscated by the NGJA.
   
   
6. The sealed parcel is kept back with the NGJA and four copies of the invoice will be handed over the exporter duly acknowledge by the export manager for the receipt of the parcel.
   
   

Then the exporter is required to obtain insurance coverage for the parcel and pay the export sevices fee on F.O.B. value to National Gem & Jewelry Authority. The exporter should get the airway bill from the respective air line office and get a confirmation of the date and air line which air freights the Gem and Jewelry Parcel to the destination.