RMAP the first supply chain due diligence scheme recognized by European Commission

The Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) says its Responsible Minerals Assurance Process (RMAP) is the first supply chain due diligence scheme to be officially recognized by the European Commission for EU importers’ Conflict Minerals Regulation (CMR) compliance.

The CMR is designed to ensure the supply chain practices of EU importers and of smelters and refiners sourcing from conflict-affected and high-risk areas are transparent and responsible. The regulation is built on the concept of risk-based due diligence as described in the OECD guidance for minerals from conflict-affected and high-risk areas.

RMI was created by the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA), the world’s largest industry coalition dedicated to responsible business conduct in global supply chains.

The European Commission found the RMAP standards and implementation to be fully aligned with the requirements of the CMR and OECD Guidance, RMI said.

While EU importers are ultimately responsible for their individual compliance with CMR obligations, a supply chain due diligence scheme that is recognized by the European Commission, such as the RMAP, can help enable importers in their compliance, it added. Those obligations include management system, risk management, third-party audit and disclosure obligations.

EU recognition of the RMAP covers the RMAP Tin and Tantalum Standard, the RMAP Tungsten Standard, and the RMAP Gold Standard. The recognition only applies to the RMAP scheme and to smelters/refiners conformant with the RMAP standards, not to other schemes the RMI may cross-recognize.

“RMI RMAP recognition supports the fundamental due diligence objectives in the CMR and OECD guidance, expands the value of RMAP participation for smelters and refiners, and provides a practical compliance tool for EU importers,” RMI executive director Jennifer Peyser said in a news release. 

“The RMI valued the recognition process for its independent program review, and we commit to advancing CMR implementation and industry uptake of meaningful due diligence practices and reporting.”

The European Commission said is planning to create a “list of global responsible smelters and refiners” based on smelters and refiners covered by recognized supply chain due diligence schemes and information submitted by member states as part of their annual report on the implementation of the CMR.