Helping companies source minerals responsibly

The OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas provides management recommendations for global responsible supply chains of minerals to help companies to respect human rights and avoid contributing to conflict through their mineral or metal purchasing decisions and practices. The Due Diligence Guidance is for use by any company potentially sourcing minerals or metals from conflict-affected and high-risk areas.

5th ICGLR-OECD-UN forum on implementing due diligence in the 3Ts and gold supply chains
Paris, 2-3 May 2013

Final upstream report on one-year pilot implementation of the Supplement on Tin, Tantalum, and Tungsten, 31 January 2013

Final downstream report on one-year pilot implementation of the Supplement on Tin, Tantalum, and Tungsten, 8 January 2013

‌The 2nd edition of the Guidance contains the Council Recommendation, the text of the Due Diligence Guidance and the Supplements on Tin, Tantalum and Tungsten, and Gold.

> OECD Due Diligence Guidance (pdf)

> Guide sur le devoir de dilligence (pdf)

The Guidance was officially adopted on 25 May 2011 at the OECD's 50th Anniversary Ministerial Meeting.

> Council Recommendation

> Remarks by US Secretary of State Clinton

> Statement by NGOs (pdf)

> Déclaration des ONG (pdf)

The Council Recommendation was revised on 17 July 2012 to include the Gold Supplement. While not legally-binding, the Recommendation reflects the common position and political commitment of adhering countries.‌

Simplified guide

This guide explains the basics of upstream due diligence in the supply chain of tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold from conflict-affected and high-risk areas in Africa’s Great Lakes region. It does not replace the official text of the Guidance.

[ English | French | Lingala | Mandarin | Swahili ]

DOCUMENTS AND LINKS

Implementing the Due Diligence Guidance in Africa's Great Lakes region


Background to developing the OECD Due Diligence Guidance

 
How the Guidance assists companies to comply with Section 1502 of U.S. Dodd Frank Act (pdf)
 
  
List of useful resources for due diligence in the mining sector (pdf)

 
OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises

 
OECD Risk Awareness Tool for Multinational Enterprises in Weak Governance Zones

An international standard

Stakeholders in the ICGLR-OECD-UN GoE on the DRC forum on implementation of due diligence submitted a joint letter to the US Securities and Exchange Commission on 29 July 2011. Read the Note of clarification on the stakeholders’ letter.

On 22 August 2012, the US Securities and Exchange Commission recognised the OECD Guidance as an international framework for due diligence measures undertaken by companies that are required to file a conflict minerals report under the final rule implementing sec 1502 of the Dodd-Frank legislation. Read the press release. 

The US Department of State endorses the Guidance and encourages companies to draw upon it as they establish their due diligence practices. Statement signed by Under Secretaries Hormats and Otero.

The United Nations Security Council resolution 1952 (2010) supports taking forward the due diligence recommendations contained in the final report of  the UN Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which endorses and relies on the OECD Due Diligence Guidance.

The Lusaka Declaration [ français ] signed by 11 Heads of State of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) in December 2010 states the processes and standards of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance will be integrated into the six tools of the Regional Initiative against the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources. To intensify co-operation, a Memorandum of Understanding between the OECD and the ICGLR was signed on 13 December 2010. G8 leaders and African countries encouraged full implementation of the Lusaka Declaration at the Deauville G8 summit on 26-27 May 2011. G8/Africa joint declaration.

Implementing the Guidance

The Guidance was developed through a multi-stakeholder process with in-depth engagement from OECD and African countries, industry and civil society, as well as the United Nations Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of Congo. As a result, the Guidance is practically-oriented, with emphasis laid on collaborative constructive approaches to complex challenges.
 

Work is underway to ensure the widest possible dissemination of the Guidance and its active use by companies throughout the mineral supply chain, industry associations, financial institutions, and civil society organisations. The OECD, the ICGLR and the UN Group of Experts on the DRC are working together to implement the Guidance in Africa's Great Lakes region.

Specific minerals present unique challenges for supply chain due diligence. Supplements on these minerals are being developed as an integral part of the Guidance. The Tin, Tantalum and Tungsten Supplement was developed at the same time as the Due Diligence Guidance. The Gold Supplement was developed subsequently and became an integral part of the Due Diligence Guidance in July 2012.