In November 2004 the Austrian NCP received a request for review from an NGO and other interested parties alleging that a multinational enterprise had breached several provisions of the Guidelines in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The company in question had allegedly supplied German and Austrian companies with the mineral coltan. The NGOs allegations focused on the illegal extraction of natural resources and the export of minerals from conflict regions.
The Austrian NCP took the lead on this specific instance with the support of the German and UK NCPs.
Due to the internal situation in the DRC it was impossible for the NCPs to verify the claims. Consensus between the parties was not reached and no statement was issued.