Windhoek  - Major players in the world's diamond industry converged on the Namibian capital Windhoek on Tuesday for a three-day meeting of the international scheme tasked with ensuring the ethical trade in diamonds.

The meeting of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), takes place under pressure on the body to effectively act on its mission to combat the trade in so-called conflict or blood diamonds.

Civil society organizations involved in the KPCS have raised questions about its ability to deal with, among other challenges, the smuggling of diamonds in countries like Brazil, Ivory Coast, Venezuela, Zimbabwe and Guinea.

"The clock is running out on the Kimberley Process credibility ... it would be scandalous if uncooperative governments succeeded in hobbling it into ineffectiveness," Global Witness' Annie Dunnebacke said in the statement.

The Kimberley Process, implemented in 2003, with members required to have the appropriate laws and controls to certify shipments of rough diamonds as "conflict-free" and prevent conflict diamonds from entering the legitimate trade.

Namibia currently chairs the KPCS, which to date has 49 members representing 75 countries.(dpa)