IRMA believes that many of the negative social and environmental impacts of mining can be avoided if mines operate according to best practice.
The IRMA Standard seeks to define best practice.
The IRMA Standard specifies a set of objectives for environmentally and socially responsible practice, across 26 chapters distributed within 4 principles:
The IRMA Standard consists of a set of more than 420 auditable and assessable requirements that reflects agreement of the equally-governed multi-stakeholder IRMA process on the most effective way to achieve the agreed social and environmental objectives of each chapter of the IRMA Standard, given the current state of knowledge. The IRMA Standard serves as the basis of a voluntary assurance system offering independent third-party assessment and verification of environmental and social performance measures at industrial mine sites around the world.
Current Version
The version currently in force is:
IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining V1.0
Languages available: Chinese, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish.
This version is applicable to all industrial mines in operation, as well as mineral processing when it is conducted at the site of the mine (i.e., co-located on-site mineral processing).
This version is not applicable to mineral exploration or stand-alone mineral processing.
Important: The accompanying Guidance Document and topic-specific Supplementary Guidance include important information related to the intent of each requirement, as well as additional information that may aid auditors in assessing conformity with IRMA requirements. It is an integral part of the IRMA Standard, and must be used in parallel.
The standard, the guidance document, and full documentation are available on the Resources page
For projects at a Mineral Exploration or Development stage: It is anticipated that the IRMA Standard V2.0 will be fully applicable to mineral exploration and development projects. While the revision of the IRMA Standard remains ongoing, those projects and sites can participate in pilot testing the Draft IRMA-Ready Standard. Learn more here.
History and Development Process
IRMA uses the ISEAL Code of Good Practice as a reference for the development, review, and revision of the IRMA Mining Standard. IRMA also seeks to align with the WTO Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations and the UNECE Guidelines on Gender-Responsive Standards across its governance structure, documentation, and operational practices.
2012-2013
Internal “Zero Draft” produced, informed by an extensive literature review and workshops with subject matter experts.
2014
1st Draft Standard V1.0 released for public consultation, accompanied by a global survey
2015-2016
2nd Draft Standard V1.0 released for public consultation, while pilots projects are conducted in Zimbabwe and the USA, and IRMA Expert Working Groups brining representatives from all stakeholder groups are convened.
June 2018
IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining V1.0 is approved by IRMA equally-governed multi-stakeholder Board and officially launched.
2019-2020
Pilot projects are conducted to establish the proof of concept of the standard and IRMA independent third-party assurance program, while community workshops are convened. 1st audit report published in 2020.
2021
Draft Standards for Exploration and Development (IRMA-Ready), and for Mineral Processing are released for public consultation
2022
IRMA Mining Standard under review, informed by the work of 10 Expert Working Groups. The review confirmed the need for a revision of the Standard.
2023-2024
1st DRAFT Standard V2.0 released in October 2023 for 90-day public consultation, accompanied by draft applicability guide to all phases of mineral development projects and operations
2024
Comments received during public consultation, additional engagement, Indigenous roundtable, and from Expert Working Groups are integrated. New draft submitted to IRMA Board for review and discussion.
2025*
2nd DRAFT Standard V2.0 will be released for a 90-day public consultation.
*Final date subject to approval by IRMA Board of Directors
Access our most recent updates on the Standard revision process here:
Additional information about our Standard Development processes can be found in IRMA Standard Development Procedure, and IRMA Standard-Setting Public System Report.
How to Use the IRMA Standard
The IRMA Mining Standard is an answer to global demand for more socially and environmentally responsible mining. Stakeholders may use the IRMA Mining Standard in the following ways:
- Industrial Mine Sites can put themselves on a pathway to operational excellence and harm prevention by following international best practice, can demonstrate through third-party assessments that they are improving practices over time, and can differentiate their efforts to protect social and environmental values.
- Downstream Purchasers can get insight into the practices of their mineral suppliers and ask their suppliers to give preference to minerals that come from operations that have been independently assessed and are performing at higher levels of responsible practices.
- Communities, Workers and Labor Unions, Civil Society Organizations, and NGOs can hold companies accountable and ask for third-party assurance and transparent reporting to build trust between the mining operation and the communities in which they operate, and serve as a basis for setting shared priorities and informing constructive dialogue for improved practices.
- Financial institutions, Banks and Investors can use the IRMA Standard to assess practices at the asset level, improve lending policies, or signal an intent or interest to invest in more responsible mining companies.
- Governments can use conformance with IRMA Standards as a key metric in national mining indicator, and can draw upon the IRMA Standard and its requirements to improve their expectations for the mining sector and use it as a blueprint for improved regulation.
- Insurance Companies can leverage the IRMA Standard to assess environmental and social risks associated with exploration, mining, and mineral processing projects and operations, and integrate them into their underwriting processes, to enhance risk management.