Mining

IRMA Standard v2.0: Second DRAFT out for public consultation until October 22

22 July 2025By Pierre Petit-De Pasquale

Today, IRMA releases a 2^nd DRAFT of the IRMA Standard v2.0 (for Responsible Exploration, Extraction, and Processing of Minerals) for a new round of worldwide public consultation – open until October 22, 2025.

This new draft builds on the 1^st DRAFT version published in October 2023, and invites a global conversation to improve and update the 2018 IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining V1.0. This 2^nd DRAFT is intended to provide as final of a look-and-feel as possible, although input from this consultation will result in final edits, and consolidation to reduce overall number of requirements, for a version that will be presented to IRMA’s unique equally-governed multi-stakeholder Board of Directors for adoption and implementation.

The 2^nd DRAFT does not represent content that has yet been formally endorsed by the IRMA Board. IRMA’s Board leaders seek the wisdom and guidance of all readers to inform this through an inclusive revision process one more time, to improve the Standard.

This 2^nd DRAFT has been prepared and updated by the IRMA Secretariat based on:

learnings from the implementation of the current IRMA Standard (V1.0)
experience from the first mines independently audited (as of July 2025, 24 sites have completed audits or are in the process of being audited)
evolving expectations for best practices in mining to reduce harm
comments and recommendations received from stakeholders and Indigenous rights-holders
the input of subject-specific Expert Working Groups convened by IRMA between 2022 and 2024
all comments and contributions received during the public-comment period of the 1^st DRAFT version (October 2023-March 2024)

Please note: The IRMA Standard v2.0 is new in its approach (compared to v1.0, currently in use) in that it now covers more phases of the mining and mineral supply chain, from exploration and development, through mining, closure, and mineral processing. IRMA also, separately, oversees a Chain of Custody Standard for tracking materials through the supply chain from mine-to-market end use products.

Summary of the first public consultation

IRMA held a 90-day public consultation on the Draft IRMA Standard v2.0 which ran from October 26, 2023, to January 26, 2024. The consultation aimed to receive feedback from a wide range of members and partners of IRMA, and the diverse categories of rights-holders and stakeholders that IRMA serves and that would be affected by the changes to the IRMA Standard requirements. IRMA worked to ensure that all comments could be received in a wide range of languages and channels for communications, and we informed stakeholders that all comments would be considered carefully, objectively and equally. Comments could be sent using a diverse set of communication channels (emails, online platform, live webinars, letters, text messages via phones). Respondents could contribute in a confidential and/or anonymous manner.

During this first round, we received more than 2,500 points of comments from 82 organizations. Feedback came primarily from NGOs and the private sector with additional comments from Indigenous organizations, governments and multilaterals, organized labor and other standards systems. We were encouraged to see more than 10% of the organizations commenting were Indigenous organizations. In addition, more than 20% of the organizations were from the Global South.

A public summary report of this first public consultation and changes made is available here.
It provides the following:

Context on the review of the IRMA Standard V1.0 to consider a revision.
The components of IRMA’s preparation for releasing a 1^st DRAFT v2.0 for consultation.
A summary of the first public consultation that took place over 2023-2024.
An overview of key changes captured in the first public consultation.
A summary of the remaining and arising issues that are included in the second public consultation.
Plans for the second consultation and how to engage.
Links to online resources that are relevant to both the 1^st and 2^nd public consultations.

What is included in this 2^nd DRAFT and how to engage?

The IRMA Board, supported by the IRMA Secretariat, has approved the release of this 2^nd DRAFT IRMA Standard v2.0 for a second 90-day consultation period, from July 22 to October 22, 2025.

The second consultation will support rights-holders and stakeholders to engage and submit feedback by offering these resources, among others (see ‘Resources’ section below):

The public summary report on the first consultation period (see above).
A detailed log of all the comments that were submitted (confidential contributions have been redacted), and the individual responses from IRMA.
The full 2^nd DRAFT Mining Standard v2.0 (the new consolidated draft developed based on the first consultation period), in English, that includes:
1. For each chapter: summary of the changes since the 2023 first draft; details on feedback received and decision made for every consultation question.
2. Applicability to respective development stages (exploration to permitting to operations) integrated within the design of the chapters.
3. Updated charts, tables, annexes and glossary.
At-a-glance tables to easily compare the IRMA Standard V1.0 (2018) and this new consolidated 2^nd DRAFT, highlighting substantial differences.
A mapping of the relevant section of the 2^nd DRAFT against the OECD Guidance For Responsible Supply Chains

How to engage?

Our dedicated consultation page lists all the ways to comment, including:

- - An online commenting form, allowing for anonymous and/or confidential submissions.
  - Email (at comments@responsiblemining.net) and postal options; including confidential options;
  - WhatsApp (+1 301 202 1445) for text or voice comments; including confidential and encrypted options.
  - Webinars and live consultations, to be announced in the coming weeks.

IRMA Expert Advisors and Expert Working Group

Building on the positive experience of Expert Working Groups, IRMA welcomes the contribution of individual experts as follows:

Expert Advisors

Pools of Expert Advisors will be created for the year 2025, seeking their individual perspective and suggestions on the following topics:
—        Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Area Due Diligence
—        Upstream and Downstream Sustainability Due Diligence
—        Indigenous Peoples and Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC)
—        Climate Action
—        Applicability of the Standard to Mineral Exploration and Development
—        Applicability of the Standard to Mineral Processing Projects and Operations

The Terms of Reference applicable to these Expert Advisors, including instructions on how to apply, are available at (click on this link): ToR for Expert Advisors 2025.

If you are interested in participating in joining the 2025 pools of IRMA Expert Advisors on one or more of these topics, please contact IRMA’s Standards Director, as explained in the Terms of Reference

Expert Working Group

Additionally, and acknowledging that several issues and challenges related to the management of tailings storage and mine waste facilities could not be resolved during the development of this 2nd DRAFT, IRMA proposes to discuss and explore potential approaches within an IRMA Expert Working Group dedicated to Tailings Storage and Mine Waste Facility Management.

The Terms of Reference applicable to this Expert Working Group, including instructions on how to apply, are available at (click on this link): ToR for Expert Working Group 2025.

If you are interested in participating in the IRMA Expert Working Group on Tailings and Mine Waste Storage Management, please contact IRMA’s Standards Director, as explained in the Terms of Reference.

Resources

➭ 2nd DRAFT for public consultation
To access the 2^nd DRAFT of the IRMA Standard v2.0, open for public consultation until October 17, 2025, click here for a pdf version, and here for a tabular version (Excel).

Individual chapters are available here too.

Note that only an English version is available for this second public consultation.

➭ Public summary report of the first public consultation
To access the public summary report, click here for a pdf version.

➭ Summary of changes made in the 2nd DRAFT
To view the summary of the changes by Chapter that were completed during the first public consultation and resulted in the new 2^nd DRAFT that is open for the second public consultation until October 17, 2025, click here for a pdf version.

➭ Comparative tables (2018-2025)
To access the comparative tables between the IRMA Standard v1.0 (2018) and this new 2nd DRAFT, highlighting all substantial differences, click here for a pdf version.

➭ All comments received during the 1^st public consultation and IRMA responses
To view the full comments log for the first public consultation of the DRAFT IRMA Standard v2.0, click here for a pdf version, and here for a csv version (machine-readable).

➭ Summary of feedback received on consultation questions and decisions made
To view a summary of the feedback received for each consultation together with decisions made by IRMA, click here for a pdf version.

➭ Mapping of the 2^nd DRAFT against the OECD Guidance
To view a mapping of the relevant section of the 2nd DRAFT against the OECD Guidance For Responsible Supply Chains, click here for an excel version.

Additional resources

Individual Chapters can be downloaded from our Resources page: click here
Key External References Used in IRMA Standards (July 2025 update): click here
Log of the main documents and publications considered for the IRMA Standard review and revision (until 2023): Log of main documents and publications
IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining v1.0 (2018) – EN | ES | FR | PT | ZH
IRMA Standard (for Responsible Mining and Mineral Processing) v2.0 – 1^st DRAFT for public consultation – used for the first public consultation held October 2023 to January 2024) – EN | ES

Note: If you wish to discuss your previously submitted comments you can write to IRMA’s Standards Director Pierre Petit-De Pasquale: pdepasquale@responsiblemining.net

Credit: Suki Lee via Pexels.com (free use license)Standards

Update on the IRMA Mining Standard revision process

3 June 2025By Pierre Petit-De Pasquale

Background

Following the release of a 1^st Draft of the IRMA Mining Standard V2.0 in October 2023 for a 90-day public consultation, the IRMA Secretariat received more than 2,500 points of comments from 82 organizations, organized additional engagement with stakeholders and Indigenous rights-holders, and solicited complementary guidance from multiple topic-specific Expert Working Groups.

We first anticipated the release of a 2^nd Draft – for a second round of public consultation – as early as Q3 2024, then subsequently announced that this would likely not be approved by the IRMA multi-stakeholder equally-governed Board of Directors before March 2025. We provided a detailed explanation for why the process was taking longer than planned.

Where are we now?

We are now in June and a sub-group of the IRMA Board of Directors is still actively working to resolve the final points of disagreements. This discussion is entirely focused on the draft revised Chapter dedicated to the management of Mine Waste Facilities, including tailings storage/management facilities (TSF or TMF), especially with regard to the GISTM standard and the recent announcement of a Global Tailings Management Institute being established to oversee it.

Once all issues are resolved and approved by the IRMA Board, the Secretariat will be able to release the 2^nd Draft IRMA Mining Standard V2.0 for a 60-day consultation period.

(NOTE: the Board agreeing to release a Draft Standard for consultation does not constitute endorsement of everything in the Standard; it will be an invitation to the world to help further improve and refine the revision of the IRMA Mining Standard for the Responsible Exploration, Extraction, and Processing of Minerals.)

Expert Working Groups: 2025 and beyond

At the time of the release of the 2^nd Draft IRMA Mining Standard V2.0 for public consultation, the IRMA Secretariat plans to circulate a call for interest to refresh and restart the topic-specific IRMA Expert Working Groups (EWG). The final list of topics to be covered is being finalized, and Terms of Reference are being updated.

We express our gratitude to you all again for your patience and understanding, as IRMA remains committed to working transparently on the revision of the world’s most comprehensive and rigorous standard available for the minerals sector.

If you don’t want to miss the relevant announcements, make sure to subscribe to the IRMA Newsletter!

Standard 2.0 updated timelineStandards

Update on the IRMA Mining Standard 2.0 revision

13 February 2025By Pierre Petit-De Pasquale

NOTE: This post is superseded by the linked 3 June 2025 update.

Following the release of a first draft of Standard 2.0 in October 2023 for a 90-day public consultation, the IRMA Secretariat received more than 2,500 points of comments from 82 organizations (see previous update).

Although we had first anticipated the release of a second draft as early as Q3 2024 for a 60-day public consultation, such release is now expected for March 2025; and subject to approval by the IRMA multi-stakeholder equally-governed Board of Directors.

Why is the process taking longer than planned?

IRMA granted extensions to organizations that asked for more time during the first public consultation up to March 2024) to ensure all could contribute.
The quality and length of most contributions required a longer processing time from our team of subject matter experts.
During and after the first public consultation, IRMA received requests for additional engagement, including calls and in-person meetings, from a number of organizations (across NGOs, Indigenous rights’ organizations, mining companies, government agencies, and other industry actors). IRMA responded by engaging in all requests; this engagement occurred mainly April-July 2024, but also continued through November 2024.
This lengthened process delayed our ability to prepare updated material and questions for our Expert Working Groups (see note below).
A new consolidated draft was then submitted to the IRMA Board of Directors on 1^st November 2024 for a 6-week review period, aiming for their approval before the end of 2024.
Board members from the mining and the NGO sectors requested additional discussions about, and work on, the following topics:
- Rationale for, and listing of, critical requirements;
- Upstream and downstream sustainability due diligence;
- Free, Prior, and Informed Consent of Indigenous Peoples;
- Tailings management, especially with regard to the GISTM standard;
- Water management;
- Biodiversity offsets;
- Carbon offsets;
- Air quality and dust management.
Finally, the fact that IRMA finalized and launched the first official version of the IRMA Chain of Custody Standard (with its associated Assurance Manual, and Claims Procedure and Communications Policy) over the course of the three first quarters of 2024 consumed attention, discussion, and refining time from both the IRMA Secretariat and the IRMA Board.

What’s next?

The second round of public consultation is coming up soon!

The IRMA Board, supported by the IRMA Secretariat, is working to finalize the new draft for a 60-day consultation period. This is now expected for March-April (NOTE: the Board agreeing to release the Standard for consultation doesn’t constitute endorsement of everything in the Standard It’s an invitation to the world to help further improve the new draft.)

Materials we will release in support of this second consultation:

A public report on the first consultation period;
A fully detailed log of all the comments that were submitted (confidential contributions will be redacted), and the response from IRMA;
The full draft Standard, that includes:
- For each chapter: summary of the changes since the 2023 first draft; details on feedback received and proposed decision for every consultation question;
- Applicability to respective development stages (exploration to permitting to operations) will be integrated within the design of the chapters;
- An updated Glossary;
- Updated annexes (including environmental quality tables);
Comparative tables between IRMA Standard V1.0 and this second draft, highlighting substantial differences.

IRMA is committed to again offer opportunities for feedback from all stakeholders and Indigenous rightsholders.

We aspire to process all the comments, convene expert working groups, and meet requests for specific engagement, during Q2 and Q3 2025, so that a final Standard may be adopted as final by the IRMA Board before the end of 2025.

We thank you all for your patience; we remain committed to working transparently on this updated IRMA Mining Standard that many are eager to use and implement.

Expert Working Groups: 2023-2024 update

Some of the Expert Working Groups that were convened in 2022 have been solicited again, while a new one was created (Mineral Supply Chain). Note that no group calls took place, and members were only asked to provide individual feedback. Details are provided in the table below:

IRMA Working Groups	Status
Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas (CAHRAs)	Asked for additional contribution in August 2024 on the new draft Chapter on “Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Area Due Diligence“. It is anticipated that this working group will need to be reconvened during the second public consultation.
Land Acquisition, Displacement, and Resettlement	Asked for additional contribution in April 2024 on the new draft Chapter.
Mineral Supply Chain	Asked for additional contribution in August 2024 on the new draft Chapter on “Upstream and Downstream Sustainability Due Diligence“. It is anticipated that this working group will need to be reconvened during the second public consultation.
Planning and Financing for Mine Closure	Asked for additional contribution in August 2024 on the new draft Chapter on “Concurrent Reclamation, Closure, and Post-Closure“.
Waste and Materials Management	Asked for additional contribution in August 2024 on the new draft Chapter on “Tailings Storage Facilities and Physical Stability Management“. It is anticipated that this working group will need to be reconvened during the second public consultation.
Water Management	Asked for additional contribution in August 2024 on the new draft Chapter on “Water Management“. It is anticipated that this working group will need to be reconvened during the second public consultation.
Circularity	Solicited feedback in October 2023 when 1^st Draft was released. No particular challenge identified since.
Gender Equality and Gender Protections	Solicited feedback in October 2023 when 1^st Draft was released. No particular challenge identified since.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG)	Solicited feedback in October 2023 when 1^st Draft was released. No particular challenge identified at that time. Former “Greenhouse Gas Emissions” chapter has been expanded, renamed “Climate Action” and peer-reviewed by an external consultancy firm, AGS Carbon, specializing in Climate Action, Standard setting, and audits. It is anticipated that this working group will need to be reconvened during the second public consultation.
Indigenous Peoples and FPIC	Solicited feedback in October 2023 when 1^st Draft was released. No particular challenge identified at that time. Following specific request for engagement, the new draft chapter was sent to 15 Indigenous leaders from across all 7 socio-cultural regions (most of them were not previously part of the Expert Working Group). An in-person closed-door meeting was also organized in November 2024, following a request from Indigenous rights’ organizations and Indigenous leaders to do so. It is anticipated that this working group will need to be reconvened during the second public consultation.
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)	Solicited feedback in in October 2023 when 1^st Draft was released. No particular challenge identified since.

Expert Working Group Demographics

Total number of Working Groups: 11
Total number of Experts: 159 (87 male, 72 female)
Countries represented: 26

Mining

IRMA Standard v2.0: Second DRAFT out for public consultation until October 22