Chain of Custody Standard 2.0 - IRMA - The Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance

The DRAFT Chain of Custody Standard 2.0 is designed to provide baseline requirements for tracing material coming from any IRMA-audited mine through the downstream processing of minerals into products, all the way to the end consumer.

We welcome input from all stakeholders and Indigenous rights holders to help us shape the IRMA Chain of Custody Standard.

Chain of Custody is the concept of tracking the flow of mined materials from the original point of extraction, through purchasing and trading of those materials, down through processing into more finished components, to the point of manufacture into end products people use every day – including cars, jewelry, electronics, buildings, solar panels and more.

We invite you to contribute

Since its founding, IRMA has been a forum where all stakeholders and Indigenous rights holders with an interest in mining can provide perspectives on what it means to mine more responsibly and work together to define best practices.

Public consultation open for the Chain of Custody Standard

IRMA develops its Standards via a robust public consultation process following international good practice.

Transparently issuing the draft IRMA Chain of Custody Standard and inviting all to contribute comments on the Standard follows the IRMA Standard Development Process and ensures we are accountable to all stakeholders and Indigenous rights holders. This allows for the incorporation of requirements that follow best practice to provide a global chain of custody framework for mined materials flowing from IRMA-audited mines.

All are invited to give input. The public consultation period runs from October 26, 2023 to January 26, 2024. All comments will be considered carefully – a summary of comments and IRMA’s responses will be provided after the consultation period ends. In addition to the instructions below, additional resources, including the full text of the IRMA Chain of Custody Standard as PDF or spreadsheet, are available to aid your comments.

Introductory Chain of Custody webinar

Recordings of the 21 November Chain of Custody introductory webinar are available in the Webinar section below in English, French, Indonesian, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.

How to comment

There are several ways to have your voice heard. No matter how you comment, or what language it is in, it will be carefully considered, and you can request it be kept confidential.

When you comment via one of the methods below please include with your comments:

Your name, whether you want your comment to be confidential, organization (and whether you are commenting on behalf of that organization), email address, country, and sector.
For each comment reference the relevant chapter, requirement, and/or consultation question so that we can incorporate it appropriately into our review.

Via WhatsApp

To comment via text or voice, scan the code at right or enter the IRMA WhatsApp number: +1.301.202.1445. Be sure to let us know you are commenting on the Chain of Custody Standard.

IRMA WhatsApp QR code — Scan this code with your phone to submit comments via WhatsApp

Via email

comments@responsiblemining.net

Via postal mail

Send to
IRMA Chain of Custody Standard Comments
113 Cherry St, #74985
Seattle, Washington, 98104
United States

Access Chain of Custody 2.0 resources.

What the IRMA Chain of Custody Standard includes

The DRAFT Chain of Custody Standard 2.0 provides a common set of requirements for sourcing, tracking, accounting, handling, and selling materials that come from mines audited against the IRMA Standard. It establishes requirements that can be independently verified to provide objective evidence for the flow of materials from the mining operation or mineral processor, down the supply chain to the end products. It includes:

Management System Requirements
Documentation and Assurance
Material Accounting
Sales and Shipping
IRMA Claims
IRMA Chain of Custody Verification Process

In addition, the DRAFT Chain of Custody Standard 2.0 also recognizes recycled content. This is important in the shift to a more circular economy that values reuse of scrap materials, recycling and reducing waste.

How the IRMA Chain of Custody Standard supports responsible sourcing

The IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining is widely recognized as the most comprehensive set of best practices for industrial-scale mining. The IRMA Standard and system for independent third-party site-level audits and transparent reporting have generated a high level of trust across public and private sectors. The IRMA DRAFT Chain of Custody Standard 2.0 protects the value of the investment in social and environmental responsibility as materials from IRMA-audited mines and mineral processors move through the supply chain, from the mine to products that will be bought by the end consumer – like cars, computers, phones, jewelry, solar panels, buildings, wind turbines and more.

The IRMA Chain of Custody Standard is for use by entities processing or trading materials from IRMA-audited mines and mineral processors along the supply chain. Entities assessed by an IRMA-approved auditing body can pass on an IRMA achievement claim for qualifying material.