ITA and RMI Demonstrate Assurance Leadership in Tin Due Diligence

HERTFORDSHIRE, United Kingdom and ALEXANDRIA, Va., November 13, 2019 /3BL Media/– The International Tin Association (ITA) and the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI), an Initiative of the Responsible Business Alliance, have jointly developed and published new “Assessment Criteria for Tin Smelting Companies,” which clarify a common upstream and downstream view of due diligence requirements for the tin supply chain. 

These Criteria are designed to align with the internationally recognized OECD due diligence guidance, assist with the new London Metal Exchange (LME) responsible sourcing requirements, and satisfy other upcoming requirements such as the EU Minerals Due Diligence Regulation. 

The Criteria will be used by the RMI to replace their Tin Standard for the Responsible Minerals Assurance Process (RMAP) following a transition period, and will also set the requirements for responsible sourcing to be evaluated by new assessment processes under the ITA’s Code of Conduct. 

“We are excited to announce this important step forward in progressing due diligence and responsible sourcing for the tin industry” said Kay Nimmo, Head of Sustainability at ITA. “We are proud to be able to bring together multiple views of complex due diligence expectations into this one new harmonised text which will be recognised by assessment processes of both our organisations and the market. This will not only improve risk management but will help to streamline information requests through the supply chain.”  

“This further demonstrates the leadership of both ITA and the RMI, and their determination to tackle the very significant challenges involved in bringing the entire supply chain together to provide realistic but robust solutions for the responsible production and sourcing of tin,” said Leah Butler, Vice President, Responsible Business Alliance.

The Criteria will enable audit firms and their individual auditors to conduct rigorous and consistent checks on whether any smelter has implemented OECD supply chain due diligence. After incorporating consultation feedback from a broad spectrum of stakeholders across the tin supply chain, the Criteria have been improved by:  

• Focusing exclusively on the tin value chain
• Structuring to reference each Step of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance Supplement on Tin
• Highlighting additional, separate regulatory or downstream expectations
• Outlining practical expectations for red-flag review of suppliers
• Explaining how smelters may use OECD-aligned joint industry initiatives for due diligence support
• Clarifying terminology and separating procedural or guidance text for auditors

The Criteria results from cooperation between the ITA and the RMI as agreed in an MOU earlier in the year. Both organisations are continuing to work together to draft further guidance on Criteria expectations in a workbook format for use by auditors and/or smelters as the new Criteria are implemented. The development of associated training materials is also planned.

The new Criteria are available for download here on the ITA website and here on the RMI website.

More information about responsible tin sourcing is available on the ITA website and the RMI website.

About International Tin Association:
The International Tin Association is the world's foremost authority on tin with over 80 years’ experience in tin related technologies. It is a membership-based organisation representing major tin producers and smelters and is the premier source of tin related information. ITA has specialist knowledge of tin use in all the major sectors as well as groups responsible for statistical and market information, future uses, regulatory affairs and sustainability. It provides links to the main tin consuming sectors through a substantial network of industry contacts. The organisation hosts seminars and international conferences. It also provides marketing and technical support to its members and the tin industry in general. Further information can be obtained from http://www.internationaltin.org   

About the Responsible Minerals Initiative
The Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) is an initiative of the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA). The RMI is a multi-industry initiative with more than 380 member companies. Its members contribute to the development and international uptake of a range of tools and resources focused on minerals supply chain due diligence, including independent third-party audit programs for smelters, Minerals Reporting Templates, supply chain risk assessment tools, Country of Origin data, and guidance documents on responsible sourcing of tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold, and cobalt. The RMI runs regular workshops on responsible sourcing issues and contributes to policy development with civil society organizations and governments. For more information, visit http://www.responsiblemineralsinitiative.org  

  
For further enquiries please contact:

Kay Nimmo
Sustainability & Regulatory Affairs, ITA
Tel: +44 (0)1727 871312
Email: kay.nimmo@internationaltin.org

Dr Jeremy Pearce
Market Intelligence & Communications, ITA
Tel: +44 (0) 1727 871311
Mob: +44 (0)79 09890630
Email: jeremy.pearce@internationaltin.org

Jarrett Bens
Director of Communications
Responsible Business Alliance
Tel: +1 571 858 5721
Email: jbens@responsiblebusiness.org