HERTFORDSHIRE (UK) AND ALEXANDRIA (USA), April 16, 2019: The International Tin Association (ITA) and the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA), on behalf of its Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI), have signed a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation across the entire tin value chain and further strengthen progress on responsible production and sourcing of tin. Both industry groups pioneered approaches to tackling minerals sourcing challenges from higher risk areas and intend that these experiences are used in setting a common direction for future activities promoting supply chain improvements appropriate to both the upstream and downstream industries.
The MoU sets out a series of objectives and collaboration mechanisms for the future working relationship between ITA and the RMI, including the establishment of a joint taskforce, aiming to enable tin stakeholders at all levels to demonstrate compliance with regulations and wider expectations for responsible supply chains. With ITA and RMI memberships including very significant representation from both upstream and downstream tin industries this is a unique opportunity to achieve an equal and effective value chain approach.
"We are excited to announce this important new step forward for the tin industry" said Kay Nimmo, Sustainability Manager at ITA. "This further demonstrates the leadership capabilities of both ITA and the RMI and their determination to take on the very significant technical and political challenges involved in bringing the whole supply chain together to provide realistic but robust compliance solutions for responsible sourcing of tin."
"This collaboration marks a new chapter in advancing ITA’s and RMI’s common objectives for the responsible sourcing and production of tin," said Leah Butler, Vice President, Responsible Business Alliance. "Our organizations bring together a unique set of capabilities, perspectives and influence that will enable us to address the evolving needs of industry and stakeholders and build on the systems of today to achieve greater positive impacts."
Central to the new agreement is work already underway to review tin smelter audit criteria and procedures designed to demonstrate company implementation of OECD due diligence. Maximising the alignment of these criteria with the OECD Due Diligence Guidance is intended to lead to recognition by the European Commission under the new EU Minerals Supply Chain Due Diligence Regulation and ultimately harmonisation with other upcoming requirements such as from the LME. A new draft joint ITA-RMI Assessment Criteria is expected to be available by the second half of 2019, and auditing options will exist for smelters to demonstrate conformance with the RMI’s Responsible Minerals Assurance Process (RMAP) and the responsible sourcing standard of the ITA Code of Conduct for tin producers.
More information about responsible tin sourcing is available on the ITA and RMI websites: www.internationaltin.org/responsible-tin and www.responsiblemineralsinitiative.org.
About International Tin Association:
The International Tin Association (formerly ITRI) 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 360 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 www.responsiblemineralsinitiative.org.
