The Tin Code, an initiative launched by the International Tin Association (ITA) in 2018, is the global environmental, social and governance (ESG) standard and transparent reporting mechanism proactively and voluntarily adopted by the tin industry. It offers tin exploration projects, mining, smelting and recycling operations the opportunity to demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement and transparency.
The Tin Code comprises 71 standards grouped under 10 ESG Principles with one of those, Standard 7.3 Responsible Sourcing, reporting on independently verified company implementation of OECD-recommended supply chain due diligence. At the smelter level, Tin Code expects companies to evaluate potential risks, seek to avoid support to conflict, human rights and other significant abuses and publicly report on their efforts according to international expectations and laws, in particular the OECD Due Diligence Guidance 3T Supplement. The criteria recommended for standard 7.3 is the ITA-RMI Assessment Criteria for Tin Smelting Companies v2 (Mar 2021) referred to as Criteria 7.3.
As part of our improvement action plan, ITSCI aims to improve ITSCI member’s understanding and use of ITSCI information and tools and how this information and those tools are related to every Step of the OECD Guidance.
If sourcing from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas (CAHRA), smelters are expected to undergo an independent audit according to Step 4 which may be supported by any separate smelter level initiatives. To that end, we aim to provide general guides regarding how ITSCI information may map to smelter audit requirements of those initiatives.
We are pleased to share a mapping against the ITA-RMI Assessment Criteria for Tin Smelting Companies (Tin Code Criteria 7.3), which is available on our Compliance page.
This mapping document was developed by ITSCI with input on the Tin Code Standard 7.3 and associated Criteria 7.3 provided by ITA. It includes reference to each of the Step of the OECD and provides a comprehensive guide for smelter undergoing a step-4 audit. The mapping indicates in which situations and how smelters can use ITSCI information to demonstrate fulfilment of each relevant Criteria requirement. It provides:
- A breakdown of which ITSCI documents against each item of Criteria 7.3
- Guidance on how to use ITSCI data in audits and reporting
In all situations, companies remain fully responsible for their own due diligence and to ensure joint work (such as via ITSCI) is relevant to their own circumstances and supply chains, including smelter actions in response to risks.
Mapping ITSCI information and Tin Code Standard 7.3 Criteria