New version of the IRMA Guidance Document available (V1.3)
The IRMA Guidance Document to the IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining V1.0 has been updated.
This latest version (V1.3), is available in English, and can be found under our Resources webpage.
Minor modifications were made in this updated version (V1.3) to ensure continued improvement on clarity, and auditability. The changes made are non-substantive changes that do not alter the intent of any requirement, and are based on learning and experience from audits and implementation.
Summary of changes – V1.3:
Chapter 2.5—Emergency Preparedness and Response: Updated links to APELL for Mining and APELL Handbook
(2nd Edition) to ensure access to original documents is maintained.
Chapter 3.5—Security Arrangements: Updated the chapter relevance to clarify applicability to any situation wheresecurity personnel are used at, or could be expected to be deployed to, the mine site or associated facilities, or in relation to transportation of products or ore, regardless of the level of decision-making and control of the operating company over such deployment. The sole term “used” had inadvertently limited interpretation of the chapter and requirement relevancy in a manner contradictory to the original intent of this chapter. This has also been reflected in the language used in the relevant means of verification and explanatory notes. Replaced the term “public security providers” with “authorities in charge of public security forces” to ensure coverage of situations where public security forces are “deployed” in spite of a formal arrangement with the operating company to “provide” such forces.
Chapter 4.7—Cyanide Management: Updated expectations for non-gold/silver mines that are not eligible for ICMI certification.
Indigenous Peoples: Capitalized all occurrences of “Indigenous Peoples” and updated all references to “Indigenous Peoples living in voluntary isolation” to also use the internationally recommended term of “Uncontacted Indigenous Peoples”. See updated Glossary for more details on these terms. This is relevant to Chapters 2.2, 2.4, and 3.7. Clarified expectations in situations where Uncontacted Indigenous Peoples or Indigenous Peoples Living in Voluntary Isolation or Initial Contact may be affected.
Glossary: Removed broken links to the Glossary of the IRMA Standard, as well as references to an overall glossary “at the end of the document” that was not included. Updated definitions of ‘Indigenous Peoples’ to account for the more modern and inclusive approach used currently by IRMA. Added new definitions for ‘Indigenous Peoples in Initial Contact’, ‘Indigenous Peoples Living in Voluntary Isolation’, and ‘Uncontacted Indigenous Peoples’. Updated definition of ‘Worker’ to ensure management personnel are also included.
General: For consistency, clarified in the Explanatory Notes that where references to “certification” / “certified” / ”certify” by IRMA appears in the formal language of a critical requirement, failure to meet such requirement will not only prevent the company to achieve IRMA 100, but also to achieve any Achievement Level higher than IRMA Transparency. Updated contact details of IRMA Standards Director.
IRMA Policy on Association: Replaced all references and links to the draft Policy with references and links to the official version approved in October 2023 by IRMA Board of Directors.”
