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Smelter Support Team

The Smelter Support Team encourage smelters to undergo an RMAP (Responsible Minerals Assurance Process) audit conducted by RMI and collects and reviews risk information about smelters in order to increase smelters that undergo responsible minerals sourcing.

Details of Main Activities

  • Encourage non-participating smelter/refineries to undergo an RMAP audit
  • Comprehend the actual condition of alleged smelters/refineries and acquire specific information
  • Collect and review risk information regarding certain smelters/refineries
  • Share issues with RMI to promote RMAP
About RMAP

Why is it necessary for downstream companies to approach smelters

Why, it may be asked, do downstream companies need to engage in such activities when most of them do not have direct transactions with smelters.

In the chapter of “Step 4: Carry out independent third-party audit of smelter/refiners’ due diligence practice” of the “OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas,” it is stated as follows:

“OBJECTIVE: To carry out an independent third-party audit of the smelter/ refiner’s due diligence for responsible supply chains of minerals from conflict-affected and high-risk areas and contribute to the improvement of smelter/refiner and upstream due diligence practices, including through any institutionalized mechanism to be established at the industry’s initiative, supported by governments and in cooperation with relevant stakeholders.”

The above referred entities that “carry out independent third-party audit” is understood to includebe RMI, LBMA and RJC. And “specific recommendations” for “all downstream companies” is added as follows:

“It is recommended that all downstream companies participate and contribute through industry organizations or other suitable means to appoint auditors and define the terms of the audit in line with the standards and processes set out in this Guidance. Small and medium enterprises are encouraged to join or build partnerships with such industry organizations”.

In accordance with the purpose of this guidance, downstream volunteer companies directly request to smelters to participate RMI’s audit, through JEITA (an industry organization), to increase validated smelter. Direct approach from downstream companies to smelters located in the upstream is called “outreach”. Due to the impact of COVID-19, the rate of validation of RMAP is showing a decrease. In the present state of affairs, expectations for such outreach activities are rising so as to support the scale-up of “independent third-party” audits of smelters/refiners. The Smelter Support Team will continue to pursue outreach activities and contribute not only to RMI but to all stakeholders.

Member Companies: 23companies (as of September,2023)

Alps Alpine Co, Ltd., Omron Corporation, Canon Inc., Kyocera Corporation, Konica Minolta, Inc., Shimadzu Corporation, Sharp Corporation, Sumitomo Electric Device Innovations, Inc., Seiko Epson Corporation, Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd., TDK Corporation, Toshiba Corporation, Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation, Nikon Corporation, Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited, Pioneer Corporation, Panasonic Holdings Corporation, Fuji Electric Co., Ltd., Horiba, Ltd., Makita Corporation, Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Ricoh Company Ltd., ROHM Co., Ltd.

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