Congress re-authorized sanctions against Myanmar (formerly Burma), continuing the ban on the import of Ruby and Jadeite into the United States from that country.  The bill was signed into law by President Obama on July 28, 2009. 

The ban, first established in 2003, was broadened in September, 2008, with the passage of the JADE Act.  Since then, it has been illegal to import ruby and jadeite from Myanmar into the US even if the stones were processed in third-party nations, such as Thailand, after leaving Myanmar.  The original 2003 legislation allowed a loophole for stones that had been “substantially transformed” in other countries.

The US imposed the sanctions in an effort to stop human-rights abuses on the part of the Myanmar junta against its citizens. 

“Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE Act of 2008” Takes Effect

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS on trade in Rubies and Jadite