The OECD has issued a  “Supplement on Gold” which  forms an integral part of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas.  According to the OECD, the supplement provides specific guidance on supply chain due diligence of gold from conflict-affected and high-risk areas according to the different positions of companies in the gold supply chain.  The guidance distinguishes between the roles of and the corresponding due diligence recommendations addressed to “upstream companies” and “downstream companies” in the supply chain.

“Upstream companies” include miners (artisanal and small-scale enterprises or medium and large-scale gold mining companies),11 local gold traders or exporters from the country of gold origin, transporters, international gold traders of Mined/Recyclable Gold and refiners.  “Downstream companies” include refined gold traders and gold markets, bullion banks and exchanges or other entities that do their own gold vaulting, jewellery manufacturers and retailers, and other companies using gold in the fabrication of products (e.g. manufacturers and retailers of electronics or medical devices). 

You can find further information about the OECD project here.

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