The Conflict Minerals Regulation is a global standard for ethical sourcing. The Conflict Minerals Reporting Template (CMRT) is a free, standardized reporting template developed by the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) and is considered the industry standard reporting template for conflict minerals compliance. The CMRT is designed to facilitate the transfer of information through the supply chain regarding mineral country of origin and smelters and refiners being utilized. The template also facilitates the identification of new smelters and refiners to potentially undergo an audit via the RMI’s Responsible Minerals Assurance Process. In addition, the European Union has implemented a conflict minerals law.
On 1 January 2021 a new law came into full force across the EU – the Conflict Minerals Regulation.
It aims to help stem the trade in four minerals – tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold – which sometimes finance armed conflict or are mined using forced labour.
What are “conflict minerals”?
In politically unstable areas, the minerals trade can be used to finance armed groups, fuel forced labour and other human rights abuses, and support corruption and money laundering.
These so-called ‘conflict minerals’ such as tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold, also referred to as 3TG, can be used in everyday products such as mobile phones and cars or in jewellery.
It is difficult for consumers to know if a product they have bought is funding violence, human rights abuses or other crimes overseas.
What does the new EU regulation do?
The EU regulation aims to:
– Ensure that EU importers of 3TG (tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold) meet international responsible sourcing standards, set by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
– Ensure that global and EU smelters and refiners of 3TG source responsibly
– Help break the link between conflict and the illegal exploitation of minerals
– Help put an end to the exploitation and abuse of local communities, including mine workers, and support local development
The regulation covers minerals and metals of:
– gold
– tin
– tungsten
– tantalum
The regulation requires EU companies in the supply chain to ensure they import these minerals and metals from responsible and conflict-free sources only.
We declare that 3TG metals used in our soldering products are not derived from or sourced from mines in conflict areas. Should you need our CMRT document, please contact us.