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

The Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI), an initiative of the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA), has announced 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 compliance. 

The Conflict Minerals Regulation (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 CMR is built on the concept of risk-based due diligence as described in the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk areas. The European Commission found the RMI’s RMAP standards and implementation to be fully aligned with the requirements of the CMR and OECD Guidance. 

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

EU recognition of the RMI’s 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 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.