Commercial Information Circulars

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e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref : EIC 230/2/16

13 May 2013

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 366/2013

European Union (EU)* : Public Consultation on a Possible EU Initiative on Responsible Sourcing of Minerals Originating from Conflict-affected and High-risk Areas

The European Commission (the Commission) has launched a public consultation on "conflict minerals" and the details can be accessed through the following link:
http://trade.ec.europa.eu/consultations/?consul_id=174

DETAILS

2.There is an increasing global awareness that sourcing minerals from conflict-affected and high-risk areas may contribute, through the supply chain, to the financing of armed groups in control of those mining sites and thereby prolonging the political conflicts and instability in those areas. The business community also increasingly recognizes its role in providing better consumer information and transparency in this regard. Currently, the Commission is exploring potential new policy options to complement the global efforts in mitigating possible adverse impacts along the mineral supply chains.

3.The aim of the public consultation launched by the Commission is to get interested parties' views on a potential EU initiative for responsible sourcing of minerals coming from conflict-affected and high-risk areas; e.g. war zones, post-war zones, and areas vulnerable to political instability or civil unrest. The Commission would like to deepen its understanding of issues such as the sourcing and security of supply of minerals, supply chain transparency and good governance. The Commission will then use the results to help it decide whether and how to move forward in its due diligence initiatives and support for good governance in mineral mining. The public consultation is open now until 26 June 2013 and interested parties can provide their views through the Commission's online questionnaire which can be accessed through the following link:
http://ec.europa.eu/yourvoice/ipm/forms/dispatch?form=EuMin&lang=en

ENQUIRIES

4.For enquiries concerning the content of this circular, please contact the undersigned at telephone number 2398 5556.

Yours faithfully,
 

(Miss Anita WONG)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry

* The EU includes Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.