Mining compliance from ICMM Principles to conflict minerals— answered in 3 seconds.

The International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) 2020 update to its 10 Mining Principles introduced binding performance expectations across six thematic areas. Members must now implement a climate change strategy consistent with limiting warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels (Principle 2), including Scope 1, 2 and material Scope 3 emissions disclosure aligned with TCFD. The 2020 update also strengthened obligations on tailings management following the Brumadinho disaster: all ICMM members must implement the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM) for all tailings storage facilities rated as “extreme” or “very high” consequence — with an Accountable Executive and independent Engineer of Record. Biodiversity no net loss commitments are mandatory for new projects in or adjacent to critical habitats (Principle 6), and human rights due diligence following the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) is a binding requirement. IgeraIndustria has the ICMM 2020 Principles and performance expectations indexed at article level.

CRIRSCO (Committee for Mineral Reserves International Reporting Standards) is the international body that harmonises national mineral reporting codes, including JORC (Australia/New Zealand), NI 43-101 (Canada), PERC (Europe), SAMREC (South Africa) and others. All CRIRSCO template codes share the same classification framework: Mineral Resources (Inferred, Indicated, Measured) and Mineral Reserves (Probable, Proven), defined by the same materiality principle of Reasonable Prospects for Eventual Economic Extraction (RPEEE). For EU-listed companies, the applicable code is the PERC Reporting Standard 2021. JORC 2012 and NI 43-101 are broadly equivalent under CRIRSCO reciprocal recognition, but EU competent persons must verify that estimates comply with PERC requirements before inclusion in EU listing documents under the European Prospectus Regulation. Key divergences include: (1) NI 43-101 requires a filing with the Canadian SEC-equivalent; (2) JORC 2012 Table 1 disclosure requirements are more detailed on metallurgical recovery; (3) PERC 2021 introduced explicit requirements for ESG factors in resource estimation. IgeraIndustria can cross-reference JORC/NI 43-101/PERC definitions for competent persons preparing European prospectus disclosures.

EU Regulation 2017/821, which became fully applicable from 1 January 2021, establishes due diligence obligations for EU importers of tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold (3TG) originating from conflict-affected and high-risk areas (CAHRAs). The regulation applies to importers above defined annual volume thresholds: 100 kg for gold; 2,500 tonnes for tin; 25 tonnes for tantalum; 250 tonnes for tungsten. The required due diligence framework is the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas, comprising 5 steps: (1) establish strong company management systems including a supply chain policy and traceability system; (2) identify and assess risks in the supply chain; (3) design and implement a strategy to respond to identified risks; (4) conduct independent third-party audit of supply chain due diligence; (5) report annually on supply chain due diligence. The European Commission publishes a list of recognised responsible smelters and refiners. EU importers sourcing exclusively from recognised smelters/refiners benefit from a due diligence assumption. IgeraIndustria has the Regulation 2017/821 and OECD 5-step guidance indexed for compliance teams.

GRI 306 (Waste, 2020 edition) Disclosure 306-4 requires reporting organisations to disclose waste diverted from disposal, including tailings. However, for mining companies, the most substantive tailings-specific ESG reporting framework is the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM, 2020), developed jointly by ICMM, UNEP and the Principles for Responsible Investment. GISTM requires disclosure of: the location, classification and failure consequence rating of all tailings storage facilities; whether each facility has an Accountable Executive and independent Engineer of Record; closure and post-closure plans; results of independent tailings reviews; and near-miss and emergency incidents. Under GRI Standards, mining companies typically report tailings under Topic Standard GRI 306 combined with GRI Mining Sector Standard (2013 legacy) Aspect G4-MM3 covering total volumes of overburden, rock, tailings and sludges and their associated risks. The EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) ESRS sector-specific standards for mining are expected to include tailings as a material topic. IgeraIndustria cross-references GISTM, GRI 306 and CSRD ESRS requirements for ESG reporting teams.

In the United States, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) under 30 CFR Parts 56/57 (metal/nonmetal mines) and Part 75 (coal mines) governs mine worker safety. In the EU, there is no single consolidated mines directive; worker protection in extractive industries is governed by Council Directive 92/91/EEC (mineral extraction through drilling) and Council Directive 92/104/EEC (surface and underground mineral-extracting industries), supplemented by the general OSH Framework Directive 89/391/EEC. Key differences include: (1) MSHA mandates specific inspection frequencies (at least two per year for surface mines, four for underground), whereas EU directives focus on principles and member state transposition; (2) MSHA requires a written Safety and Health Management Plan for all mines; EU Directive 92/104/EEC requires a Safety and Health Document (SHD) covering hazard identification, risk assessment and protection measures; (3) MSHA has specific permissible exposure limits (PELs) for respirable crystalline silica (RCS) at 50 microg/m³; the EU Carcinogens Directive 2004/37/EC established a binding OEL for RCS of 0.1 mg/m³; (4) MSHA mandates Part 46/48 miner training programmes with defined hour requirements. IgeraIndustria has both frameworks indexed for multinational mining groups.

Mining companies face a converging set of mandatory and voluntary ESG disclosure requirements. Under the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Listing Rules and Companies Act, TCFD-aligned disclosure became mandatory for premium-listed companies from 2021 and for large UK-registered companies from 2023. The TCFD framework requires disclosure across four pillars: Governance (board oversight of climate risks), Strategy (physical and transition risk scenarios including 1.5°C and 2°C scenarios), Risk Management (integration into company-wide risk processes), and Metrics and Targets (Scope 1, 2, and material Scope 3 GHG emissions, with intensity metrics for mining operations). For biodiversity, the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) published its LEAP approach (Locate, Evaluate, Assess, Prepare) in 2023, with sector guidance specific to metals and mining. TNFD reporting became a London Stock Exchange recommendation from 2024 and is expected to become mandatory under UK legislation. TNFD requires mining companies to assess dependencies on ecosystem services (freshwater, soil stability, biodiversity), nature-related risks in the project portfolio, and restoration commitments. Under the EU CSRD, ESRS E4 (Biodiversity and Ecosystems) requires disclosure of impacts on species, ecosystems and protected areas — highly material for mining operations in or near critical habitats. IgeraIndustria integrates TCFD, TNFD and CSRD ESRS E4 frameworks for mining ESG reporting.