Conflict Minerals vote: a recognition of the EU metals industry’s existing commitments to ensure responsible sourcing

Brussels, 14 April 2015: In response to today’s vote in the European Parliament’s International Trade (INTA) Committee on the EU’s Conflict Minerals Regulation, Guy Thiran, Eurometaux’s Director General, releases the following statement:

“Today’s vote has confirmed the importance of ensuring the EU’s responsible sourcing of certain minerals from conflict areas, an objective that Europe’s non-ferrous metals industry has long supported through our participation and championing of several responsible supply chain initiatives, as well as the OECD’s Due Diligence Guidelines.

We are pleased that the European Parliament’s INTA Committee has today acknowledged the validity of these existing schemes, through their recommendation that other due-diligence systems should be accepted within the EU’s mandatory obligations, when recognised as equivalent by the European Commission. This will help to avoid an unnecessary double regulatory burden for Europe’s smelters and refiners of tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold (3Ts and gold).

By introducing labelling requirements for importers and downstream users of 3Ts and gold, the INTA Committee has also taken a positive step to ensure that the entire EU supply chain is conflict-free, and that there remains a global level playing field for supply of those minerals.

However, we regret that INTA MEPs have recommended that due-diligence self-certification be made mandatory for EU smelters and refiners of 3Ts and gold. Looking ahead to the European Council’s opinion and trilogue negotiations, Eurometaux will continue the discussion on whether a voluntary scheme for EU smelters and refiners would be more effective in achieving the EU’s objectives”.

About Eurometaux

Eurometaux, the European non-ferrous metals association, represents the enterprises and organisations that make up the broad non-ferrous metals supply chain – from mining and refining to processing, fabrication and recycling. Europe’s non-ferrous metals industry represents 2% of EU GDP and creates 500,000 direct jobs and over 3 million indirect jobs in Europe.

For more information please contact:

Chris Heron, Manager, Communication and Sustainability – heron@eurometaux.be

Tel: +32 (0) 2775 63