Standards

The RMI defines standards for smelters and refiners that participate in the Responsible Minerals Assurance Process (RMAP). Our standards development process described in the RMI Standard and Assessment Criteria Development Procedure is guided by the ISEAL Standard Setting Code of Good Practice and includes extensive stakeholder consultations to ensure our standards are aligned with regulatory requirements, meet best practice expectations and are of high quality in a way that is verifiable and promotes the RMAP’s credibility and acceptance by our stakeholders.

In addition to the collaboration with industry experts and metal associations, our standards development process includes a public consultation on any major revisions. The RMI works with its multi-stakeholder Standards Advisory Group to review input received from stakeholders.

The full Assurance Standards Landscape graphic is available in English and Chinese.

Each standard is regularly reviewed and updated. Current standards can be accessed here:

For further information on the RMAP, our Standards, procedures and tools, please visit our RMAP Documents and Tools. For an overview of the main revisions to the RMAP Standards for Tin / Tantalum, Tungsten and Gold and their impact on smelters and refiners, please consult our 2017 Revisions Overview.

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ on RMI Standards

1. When can I use the Global Responsible Sourcing Due Diligence Standard for Mineral Supply Chains All Minerals?
   • The Global Responsible Sourcing Due Diligence Standard for Mineral Supply Chains All Minerals is applicable to all minerals that are not covered by an existing mineral specific RMAP Standard. However, if the company processes/mines two or more different materials that have corresponding, different or no standard, then it can use the Global Responsible Sourcing Due Diligence Standard for Mineral Supply Chains All Minerals. It is worth noting, that for those materials where RMI has a specific standard, the audit workbook will include relevant mineral specific requirements.
2. I produce copper and nickel for which there is a dedicated standard (the Joint Due Diligence Standard for Copper, Lead, Nickel and Zinc), can I be assessed against the Global Responsible Sourcing Due Diligence Standard for Mineral Supply Chains All Minerals?
   • Yes, in this instance the Global Responsible Sourcing Due Diligence Standard for Mineral Supply Chains All Minerals can be used. You should take this decision based on your specific situation and clients’ expectations.
3. I produce nickel and cobalt as bi-product, what standard can I use?
   • Yes, in this instance the Global Responsible Sourcing Due Diligence Standard for Mineral Supply Chains All Minerals can be used. However, if you like you can still use the Joint Due Diligence Standard for Copper, Lead, Nickel and Zinc which has a relevant cobalt specific requirement in the audit workbook.
4. Will the audit take longer if undertaking the assessment against Global Responsible Sourcing Due Diligence Standard for Mineral Supply Chains All Minerals?
   • No, as the assessment prep and writing or report will not be done more than once - only the audit of the transactions will be done on different materials.
5. To which stages of the supply chain can I use the Global Responsible Sourcing Due Diligence Standard for Mineral Supply Chains All Minerals?
   • To any upstream stage, from processors all the way to the mining stage included.
6. When should I prefer using the Global Responsible Sourcing Due Diligence Standard for Mineral Supply Chains All Minerals over the Facility Standard for Social, Environmental, OHS and Governance Risks?
   • You should use the Global Responsible Sourcing Due Diligence Standard for Mineral Supply Chains All Minerals when you need to demonstrate compliance with OECD Guidance on Minerals. For instance, if you trade on the LME you will need to demonstrate compliance with the OECD Guidance, hence this standard is more adequate. If you want to also be assessed against the Facility Standard, this can be done in one single assessment.

FAQ on Responsible Minerals Assurance Process

1. Why some of your standards only look at certain risks?
   • We have two types of standards, those aligned with the OECD Guidance on Minerals which look at risks indicated in its Annex II; then we have our Facility Standard which looks at broader social, environmental, OHS and governance risks.
2. Does a company always get audited by the same assessor?
   • No, assessors are rotated every 3 years.
3. How do you ensure assessors perform according to your expectations? How do you monitor assessors’ performance?
   • As part of our work RMI shadows assessors during the onboarding process of new assessor firms and also in case of complex assessment, a new facility as well as if we have a well established assessor firms but we realize there is a gap in assessor's understanding or in their performance which was detected during the quality check review RMI carries out. We also shadow routinely each firm once a year. We also use auditors score card that we complete after each assessment and also make use of the quality control system to monitor assessors’ performance.
4. How does RMI manage conflict of interests in its assessment programme?
   • First, RMI does not carry out the assessments which are instead implemented by recognized third party audit companies. However, we do review the assessment reports to ensure quality is guaranteed across the program. We use this to then issue a score card on the assessor and monitor areas of improvements that may require further training. Each assessor signs a contract which clearly outlines our conflict of interest policy.
5. Does RMI publish its audit reports?
   • RMI holds the right to publish conformance determination results, facilities’ due diligence reports and summary assessment reports which can be found here. However, facilities (not RMI) own full assessment reports and can share those reports upon request by clients. This is an individual company decision and responsibility.
6. Do you involve stakeholders during the assessments?
   • Yes, the RMI standards require the involvement of stakeholders in the assessment. Specifically, for the ESG Standard we ensure the engagement of internal and external stakeholders, whereas for the OECD aligned standards we engage employees.
7. If I want to understand more about the audit, what can I do?
   • We allow for external stakeholders to observe RMI asessments and they need to do so following the RMI observers' guidelines.
8. Do you award a conformant certificate in case of non conformances?
   • RMI doesn't award conformant certificate until non-conformances have been satisfactory addressed and confirmed as closed by assessor. Please consult the RMAP Assessment Procedures on deadlines for CAP, extensions and exclusion.