Wednesday, May 03, 2017
Major
tin producers have agreed to begin reporting on compliance with a new
code of conduct starting from third-quarter 2017, an industry body
said, seeking to boost supply chain credentials ahead of new European
rules on responsible sourcing of ore.
Ten producers have signed up to the code, which will cover environmental performance, protection of human rights and responsible metal production among other elements, and will be a prerequisite for membership of the International Tin Research Institute (ITRI), the London-based body said.
"The tin industry has an unusually high proportion of artisanal mining and this presents particular challenges in assessing and making improvements in the supply chain," ITRI said.
"ITRI and its members are committed to...engage and encourage positive change among the many small operators and artisanal miners whose livelihoods depend on the mineral sector and who make an important contribution to tin supply."
The spotlight has grown in recent years on minerals sourced from conflict areas. The European Union approved draft regulations to prevent trade in minerals from such areas last month, due to come into force from 2021.
The United States is meanwhile reviewing its conflict minerals rules, and has suspended enforcement of the costliest elements of the regulations in the meantime. The change in stance followed the election of President Donald Trump, who has vowed to cut costs for business.
As far back as 2010, the ITRI launched a supply chain initiative covering conflict areas including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi.
In the past few years however, Myanmar has become one of the world's top tin suppliers. Much of its ore comes from an area controlled by an insurgent army that the US sanctioned in 2003 for narcotics trafficking.
Source: Reuters
Ten producers have signed up to the code, which will cover environmental performance, protection of human rights and responsible metal production among other elements, and will be a prerequisite for membership of the International Tin Research Institute (ITRI), the London-based body said.
"The tin industry has an unusually high proportion of artisanal mining and this presents particular challenges in assessing and making improvements in the supply chain," ITRI said.
"ITRI and its members are committed to...engage and encourage positive change among the many small operators and artisanal miners whose livelihoods depend on the mineral sector and who make an important contribution to tin supply."
The spotlight has grown in recent years on minerals sourced from conflict areas. The European Union approved draft regulations to prevent trade in minerals from such areas last month, due to come into force from 2021.
The United States is meanwhile reviewing its conflict minerals rules, and has suspended enforcement of the costliest elements of the regulations in the meantime. The change in stance followed the election of President Donald Trump, who has vowed to cut costs for business.
As far back as 2010, the ITRI launched a supply chain initiative covering conflict areas including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi.
In the past few years however, Myanmar has become one of the world's top tin suppliers. Much of its ore comes from an area controlled by an insurgent army that the US sanctioned in 2003 for narcotics trafficking.
Source: Reuters
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