Minerals from conflict areas: Existing and new responsible‐sourcing initiatives

Revenue derived from the extraction of and/or trade in minerals in resource-rich developing countries may be used to finance internal armed conflicts, as witnessed in countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The specific guidelines issued by the UN for the DRC, and the more generic guidance from the OECD on the responsible sourcing of certain minerals from conflict-affected areas form the current international normative framework.

The first domestic legislation tackling so-called 'conflict minerals' was passed in 2010 by the US Congress. It requires US-listed companies to disclose whether or not their products contain certain minerals from the DRC or its neighbouring countries. In parallel, work on a regional regulatory framework in the Great Lakes Region and on (mostly industry-led) mineral traceability and certification schemes has gained momentum.

Following a public consultation on a potential comprehensive EU legal framework, the European Commission was due to decide on the form of future action later in the year. Stakeholder groups believe any potential EU legislation should have broader scope than US law, in terms of material and geographic range. EU industry, for its part, has been a strong proponent of voluntary, supply-chain transparency schemes.