OECD Due Diligence for Minerals

The OECD Due Diligence Guidance was developed to help companies ensure that minerals sourced from conflict-affected and high-risk areas do not finance armed groups or contribute to human rights abuses. It has become the internationally recognised standard for responsible mineral supply chain management.

The guidance applies to all mineral supply chains, including gold, tin, tantalum, tungsten and their ores and derivatives. It is endorsed by governments, industry and civil society and forms the basis for mandatory due diligence regulations in multiple jurisdictions.

AL AIN METALS implements the OECD Due Diligence Guidance across all our sourcing operations, ensuring our minerals are responsibly sourced and our supply chains meet international standards.

Step 1: Establish strong company management systems — including a clearly documented supply chain policy, management systems to implement the policy, and internal controls and accountability mechanisms.

Step 2: Identify and assess risk in the supply chain — through supply chain mapping, risk assessment using the OECD risk indicators, and identification of red flags requiring further investigation.

Step 3: Design and implement a strategy to respond to identified risks — including risk mitigation measures, suspension of trade with non-compliant suppliers, and reporting to appropriate authorities when necessary.

The OECD identifies risk indicators across five categories: armed conflict, weak governance, transnational crime, human rights abuses and environmental risks. Each category includes specific indicators that suppliers must assess.

Red flags include: sourcing from conflict-affected areas, interaction with armed groups, payments to improve security beyond normal operations, and non-transparent supply chain documentation.

AL AIN METALS screens all suppliers against OECD risk indicators and requires documentation demonstrating compliance with responsible sourcing standards.

The OECD Guidance requires companies to publicly report on their due diligence implementation. This includes describing supply chain policies, risk assessment results and mitigation measures taken.

AL AIN METALS maintains transparency documentation for all sourcing operations. We can provide buyers with relevant due diligence documentation to support their own reporting requirements.

For buyers subject to mandatory due diligence regulations (such as the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation or US Dodd-Frank Act), our documentation supports compliance with these requirements.