Resources

IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining

Full documentation and guidance

  • The Standard for Responsible Mining v1.0 (English – EN) (also in xslx format)
  • The Standard for Responsible Mining v1.0 (Español – ES)
  • The Standard for Responsible Mining v1.0 (French – FR)
  • The Standard for Responsible Mining v1.0 (Português – PT)
  • The Standard for Responsible Mining v1.0 (Chinese – ZH)

Principle 1: Business Integrity

Principle 2: Planning and Managing for Positive Legacies

Principle 3: Social Responsibility

Principle 4: Environmental Responsibility

IRMA Chain of Custody Standard

Previous Drafts

Draft Standards for Public Consultation

Draft IRMA Standard V2.0 (for Responsible Exploration, Extraction, and Processing of Minerals)

2nd Draft — Open for public consultation until 22 Oct 2025

2nd DRAFT: Individual Draft Chapters and Environmental Tables

Annexes

1st Draft — October 2023

Terms of Reference

Early Drafts

When draft Standard 2.0 is finalized, the standard and guidance will be updated and translated into multiple languages.

Exploration and Development Draft – IRMA Ready

Mineral Processing Draft

  • The 2021 IRMA Draft Mineral Processing Standard – (pdf | word)

Resources for Mines

Self-Assessment

Independent 3rd-Party Assessment

Audit-related Documents

Supporting Information

Resources for Auditors

Auditor Documents

Guides

Templates

Governance and Oversight

Other

Become an IRMA Independent Audit Firm

Introduction to the IRMA Audit Firm Approval Process

Frequently Asked Questions

  • If you are an audit firm and you want to apply to be an approved IRMA Audit Firm, please complete the IRMA Audit Firm Application Form and submit to audit.application@responsiblemining.net. More information about what it means to be an Audit Firm is available here.
  • If you are an individual auditor and you want to be an approved IRMA auditor, you must perform work under the umbrella of an IRMA approved audit firm that has a contract with a participating mine. Our current approved audit firms are identified on our website under “Resources” and then under “Mine Resources”. Each audit firm assembles an audit team based on the needs of the audit and the nature of the site. It is common practice for them to draw from resources external to their organization. Approval of auditors happens as part of the scoping process for each audit. Audit firms present their proposed team, along with qualifications, to IRMA for approval. Auditors must meet IRMA’s qualifications and also successfully complete IRMA auditor training.Audit firms staff their audit teams based on qualifications and availability, among other things. There is also a conflict of interest review to ensure that there is not a potential for bias, or perceived bias, by auditors based on previous or existing personal or business relationships.
  • Is there a deadline for submitting applications?
    No, applications will be received on an ongoing basis. However, IRMA reserves the right to limit the number of audit firms bodies that are approved at any given time, to ensure that audit firms are supported in their IRMA assurance program.
  • Does IRMA recognize other programs in lieu of approval by IRMA?
    IRMA does not have any specific reciprocity agreements with other standards bodies for approval, however, experience with programs relating to management system certification, responsible extraction schemes, or experience in a variety of international performance standards will likely enhance an audit firm’s qualifications for approval. Details on qualifications are provided in our program documents and in the application forms.
  • Are there fees associated with becoming an approved audit firm?
    Yes. Fees are described in the Oversight Procedure. There is an annual fee due to IRMA upon approval; this fee will be invoiced directly from IRMA to the audit firm. There are also costs associated with the oversight process including costs to cover application review, head offices assessments, witness assessments, and others. These fees are due to our oversight body, Assurance Services International.
  • Are there fees associated with becoming an approved auditor?
    Auditors are not required to pay a separate fee to become approved. However, IRMA does provide required training, and there is a fee associated with training. These fees will be shared prior to the promotion of any training events.
  • What qualifications do you have to meet to become an approved auditor?
    The auditor qualifications, along with other key team members of an IRMA assurance team, are presented in Annex B of the Audit Firm Requirements. IRMA does not provide general approval of auditors; however, auditors wishing to attend IRMA auditor training will be reviewed and approved for training participation. Auditors who have been identified to participate in an audit are reviewed in conjunction with specific audits and their roles on those audits.
  • When does IRMA offer auditor training?
    IRMA delivers training approximately 3-4 times a year, choosing times that provide access to different timezones around the globe. IRMA training is a multi-day virtual training program that culminates in a comprehensive exam with minimum score requirements to pass. There is a fee associated with auditor training. All information related to auditor training is provided directly to the approved audit firms. When open, registration for IRMA auditor training occurs here.
  • Who is the primary contact for the audit firm and auditor application process?
    Initially, all applications are submitted to IRMA at audit.application@responsiblemining.net.
    After initial review by IRMA, audit firm applications are forwarded to ASI who will then facilitate the rest of the application process. Inquiries about the status and outcome of the application and oversight process should be directed to ASI. Questions about the IRMA assurance process, auditor training, or general inquiries about IRMA can be submitted to info@responsiblemining.net.
  • What is involved in the IRMA Assurance Process?
    The most current description of the IRMA process is described in the Assessment Manual for Mines. This document is currently under review; once completed and approved, it will be published to the IRMA website. Where recent documents, such as the Audit Firm Requirements reference the “IRMA Assurance Manual”, the Assessment Manual for Mines can be consulted until it is replaced.

Resources for Communities

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About IRMA

How Communities and Those Who Support Them Can Use IRMA 

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