The EU Conflict Minerals Regulation is published on the Official Journal of the EU

On May 19, 2017, the Official Journal of the EU published Regulation 2017/821 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 of May 2017. This document establishes obligations in the scope of due diligence “designed to provide transparency and certainty as regards the supply practices of Union importers, and of smelters and refiners sourcing from conflict-affected and high-risk areas”.

In establishing the obligations regarding the management system, the Regulation resorts to the model and rules contained in the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains. The final version of the cited Guidance was approved at interministerial level by 42 OECD member and non-member States in 2015. In the light of the enactment of this European Regulation, it is interesting to consider the Proposal to improve the Guidance’s applicability submitted by Amnesty International and Global Witness at the beginning of May 2017.

The proposal is based on the fostering the presentation of reports every three years on behalf of adherent States on the measures implemented to promote and apply the Guidance. This report will be followed by an evaluation on efforts made carried out by the OECD.

According to the proposal, this would contribute to “improve the industries’ practices, allowing the relevant risks to be better identified and managed in accordance to applicable laws and rules”.

The text of the EU Regulation can be accessed here.

The text of the Proposal can be accessed here (only Spanish version): SC Propuesta – Mejorar La Aplicacion de la Guia OCDE