"U.S. Companies Hit 'Conflict Minerals' Deadline", 2 Jun 2015

The deadline was reached yesterday for publicly traded companies in the United States to disclose the potential presence of “conflict minerals” in their supply chains. This is the second year companies have had to file such reports...1502 requires companies that use tin, tungsten, tantalum, or gold in their products to determine where those minerals were sourced. If it is determined that the minerals originate in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Congo) or in the surrounding region, the company must report on the due diligence measures they conduct to uncover whether the minerals are contributing to Congo’s ongoing conflict..Apple and Intel...filed their reports early this year, but they also went beyond the strict reporting requirements by describing practices that raise the bar and provide leadership in the conflict-free sourcing movement. Intel has verified that all of their microprocessors are “DRC conflict free”... Apple’s report details the process they undertook to notify and educate their smelters and refiners on the importance of sourcing conflict-free minerals from Congo - a process which resulted in Apple ultimately cutting four smelters and suppliers from their supply chain for not complying with Apple’s request that they participate in an audit process.