Dodd-Frank's Conflict Minerals Provision Exposes Congo Connections
Companies must disclose any products or processes that use minerals originating from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
August 31, 2010 at 08:00 PM
2 minute read
Though the financial services industry faces the brunt of the modifications stipulated in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the minerals industry has also been called out in two separate provisions. The extractive industries must be more transparent in reporting payments it makes to governments. [See Provision in Financial Reform Bill Calls for Greater Transparency in Extractive Industries.] But companies using minerals that originate in the Democratic Republic of the Congo must also be more forthright about how and where they get those minerals.
Mineral sales are a key source of funding for violence that continues to plague the Congo in the wake of what is sometimes referred to as Africa's World War. In an effort to combat these human rights violations, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) added several new reporting requirements, inlcuding:
- A list of due diligence measures taken to ensure minerals came from a conflict-free source;
- A description of any products manufactured that contain conflict materials, such as the tin used to solder circuit boards in cell phones and computers; and
- The facilities used to process the minerals.
The provision states that a product can be designated “conflict free” if it doesn't contain or use minerals that in any way benefit armed groups in the Congo or neighboring countries. The reports will be available to the public.
NOT FOR REPRINT
© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
Trending Stories
- 1The Law Firm Disrupted: For Big Law Names, Shorter is Sweeter
- 2Wine, Dine and Grind (Through the Weekend): Summer Associates Thirst For Experience in 'Real Matters'
- 3The 'Biden Effect' on Senior Attorneys: Should I Stay or Should I Go?
- 4'That's Disappointing': Only 11% of MDL Appointments Went to Attorneys of Color in 2023
- 5'You Are Not Alone': 120 Sex Assault Victims Plan to Sue Sean 'Diddy' Combs
Featured Firms
Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays & Associates, P.C.
(470) 294-1674
Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone
(857) 444-6468
Smith & Hassler
(713) 739-1250