EU responsible mineral sourcing regulation

SOMO supports a civil society response to the Council mandate for the negotiations on a EU responsible mineral sourcing Regulation. The Councils mandate fails to offer an effective EU approach to fight the use of so-called conflict minerals.

Not only is the Council proposing a voluntary scheme and ignoring the vast majority of companies that place tin, tantalum, tungsten or gold (3TG) on the EU market – whether in raw forms or within products like laptops and engines. It is also significantly undermining the leading international framework previously endorsed by the EU – the OECDs Due Diligence Guidance. In doing so, the Council is watering down the very meaning of being a responsible company.