Global Conflict Minerals Compliance: A Complete Guide

Efficiently conducting 3TG due diligence for global conflict minerals regulation compliance

Download the e-book to get a clear, practical roadmap for managing conflict minerals due diligence across global supply chains.

You’ll learn how 3TG sourcing impacts human rights, what U.S. and EU laws require, and how tools like the CMRT, EMRT, and AMRT support responsible minerals reporting. The guide also breaks down how expanding regulations and new minerals of concern are reshaping risk—and shows how Source Intelligence helps teams streamline supplier outreach, improve data quality, and build a proactive, audit-ready compliance program.

Introduction

Conflict minerals compliance involves conducting due diligence to trace the origin of minerals like tin, tungsten, tantalum, and gold (3TG) within your supply chain, while accurately reporting on the smelters and refiners involved. Though the process is complex and resource-intensive, it’s a critical step in promoting ethical sourcing and reducing the risks of contributing to armed conflict, regional instability, and human rights abuses.

Understanding conflict minerals

What are conflict minerals?

Conflict minerals are natural resources mined in countries with ongoing conflicts, human rights violations, and general instability – namely the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and surrounding countries. Four minerals are currently considered conflict minerals by both the United States (U.S.) and the European Union (EU), and are commonly referred to as 3TG: tantalum, tin, tungsten, and gold.[1] These minerals are essential in the production and functionality of everyday household items, but sourcing them comes at a high cost in many areas of the world. 

Why are conflict minerals a problem?

The mining and trade of 3TG fuels conflict, regional instability, and human rights abuses (such as unsafe working conditions, child labor, and food insecurity), perpetuated by violent armed groups in high-risk areas across the globe. According to the Kivu Security Tracker, there were an estimated 113 armed groups in the DRC in 2020 alone. Ranging in size from small to large militias, they are well-organized and have their own international recruitment and finance networks. As such, these groups exploit profits from the conflict minerals trade to purchase weapons, pay combatants, and commit international law violations.

Global conflict minerals laws

In an effort to oppose the unethical practices and dangerous conditions linked to the extraction and trade of 3TG, the U.S. enacted Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Act in 2010. Section 1502 established the standard framework for conflict minerals compliance, inspiring other countries to adopt a similar framework – most notably, Regulation (EU) 2017/821 (commonly referred to as the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation), which was enacted in January 2021.  

While Section 1502 of the U.S. Dodd-Frank Act and the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation are the most developed, laws continue to expand worldwide as more governments realize the importance of sourcing conflict-free minerals. 

Despite the shared purpose behind Section 1502 of the U.S. Dodd-Frank Act and the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation, the scope, due diligence processes, and reporting requirements vary. Often, companies must comply with both of these laws, which can complicate compliance procedures. 

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