"Press release: No more conflict minerals- EU States need to approve a law that stops the suffering of many people", 15 Feb 2016

In May 2015, the European Parliament voted to require all European manufacturers and importers of…four minerals…to check their supply chains to make sure they don’t fuel conflicts…[T]he current Trialogue negotiations…have a moral obligation to stand strongly for an effective regulation…The vote in the European Parliament represented a great step forward…But these improvements are now at risk with European governments arguing for a voluntary scheme…According to the 2011 UN Guiding Principles on Business & Human Rights, businesses must act with due diligence. Due diligence…is most effective and workable as a shared responsibility by companies along the entire supply chain…Thanks to the 2010 U.S. Dodd Frank Act, the number of “clean” mines…is growing today. The costs of cleaning up the trade cannot simply be passed on mine workers…but should be covered by the companies…

In the policy briefing attached, CIDSE recommends that Member States revisit their positions and:
1. Show leadership on this issue by supporting mandatory due diligence requirements along the entire supply chain.
2. Support a Regulation that aligns with the OECD Due Diligence Guidance on Conflict Minerals, by:

• Ensuring that all due diligence obligations are consistent with the OECD standards
• Engaging companies downstream of metal importers, in particular companies that place products containing covered minerals on the EU market
• Including language that reflects the flexible and progressive nature of due diligence.