Burmese JADE Act of 2008

The Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE Act of 2008, a law was passed by the Government of the United States of America prohibits the import of Burmese Rubies and Jadeite into the US. In accordance with the provisions of this law, we can no longer ship Burmese Rubies to US shipping addresses. Following are answers to some Frequently Asked Questions.

Which customers does this restriction apply to?

This restriction applies to customers having shipping address in the United States only.

Does this restriction apply to any other gemstones?

No. This law specifically restricts import of only Rubies and Jadeite mined in Burma . Customers in the US can still order and import other gemstones of Burmese Origin such as Sapphires, Star Sapphires, Spinels, etc as well as Rubies originating from other countries.

My shipping address is in the US. Can I buy Burmese Sapphires, Star Sapphires and Spinels?

Yes. This restriction applies only to Burmese Rubies and Jadeite.

My shipping address is in the US. Can I buy Vietnam Rubies, Mozambique Rubies or rubies mined in any other countries?

Yes. This restriction only applies to rubies mined in Burma. Rubies mines in any other country except Burma can legally be imported into the US.

My billing address is in the United States but my Shipping address is in some other country. Can I order a Burmese ruby?

Yes. This law only prohibits import of Burmese rubies into the United States. We can ship Burmese rubies to all other countries.

Which categories does this restriction apply to?

This restriction applies to only stones listed in the following four categories:

Faceted Burmese Rubies

Burmese Cabochon Rubies

Burmese Star Rubies (Small)

Burmese Star Rubies (Large)

All listings affected by this embargo have a declaration mentioned on the listing page.

What about Burmese gems already in the US before the ban. Can they be legally traded?

Yes, they may be legally bought and sold.

As a business in the Gem & Jewelry Industry, do you support the US Embargo against Burmese Rubies & Jadeite?

We are of the opinion that the U.S. government's decision to support a ban on the trade of Burmese rubies and jadeite is likely to cause collateral damage upon independent and poor populations engaged in mining, processing and trading activities in Myanmar and other countries. It is most likely that those who will suffer are the very people that this law intends to protect.

Any other question? Please email us on [email protected] and we will revert as soon as possible.