Agoracom Blog

European Parliament votes in favour of a mandatory monitoring system for conflict minerals

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 11:26 AM on Monday, May 25th, 2015

  • European Parliament voted in favour of a mandatory monitoring system for minerals, including tin, gold and tantalum, from conflict regions
  • Bill covers not only mineral importers, smelters and refiners, but also obligates manufacturers of consumer products to ensure that their products do not contain materials made with minerals produced to fund armed conflict

In our ongoing efforts to provide you with broader communications and industry information, Avalon Rare Metals Inc. is pleased to issue this Industry Bulletin, which follows up on the April 20, 2015 Industry Bulletin entitled “EU establishes voluntary system for conflict-free mineral certification.”

On May 20, 2015, the European Parliament voted in favour of a mandatory monitoring system for minerals, including tin, gold and tantalum, from conflict regions. This end result was unexpected according to some observers, and goes beyond the proposal of the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee, which recommended self-certification but did not extend beyond smelters and refiners.

This bill covers not only mineral importers, smelters and refiners, but also obligates manufacturers of consumer products to ensure that their products do not contain materials made with minerals produced to fund armed conflict. While this bill has some hurdles to overcome as it goes through the legislative process, it highlights the global trend toward promoting socially and environmentally responsible production of critical raw materials.

Avalon’s East Kemptville tin-indium deposit, located in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia is currently being evaluated as a potential new North American source of conflict-free tin. Avalon’s Nechalacho Heavy Rare Earth deposit in the Northwest Territories is a potential source of tantalum produced in an environmentally and socially responsible way, along with rare earths and zirconium.

Avalon’s President & CEO, Don Bubar, commented: “This vote by the European Parliament is further confirmation that our commitment to sustainability in all aspects of our business positions us well to serve the future critical raw material needs of responsible manufacturing companies in the European Union and elsewhere around the world.”

For more information please see http://www.euractiv.com/sections/development-policy/parliament-votes-binding-conflict-minerals-regulation-314741. If you have any comments or questions on this article or the rare earths generally, please do not hesitate to contact Avalon directly at[email protected].

ABOUT AVALON RARE METALS INC.

Avalon Rare Metals Inc. (TSX & NYSE MKT: AVL) is a mineral development company focused on rare metal deposits in Canada, with three advanced stage projects. Its 100%-owned Nechalacho Deposit, Thor Lake, NWT is exceptional in its large size and enrichment in the scarce ‘heavy’ rare earth elements, key to enabling advances in clean technology and other growing high-tech applications. Avalon is also advancing its Separation Rapids Lithium Minerals Project, Kenora, ON and its East Kemptville Tin-Indium Project, Yarmouth, NS. Social responsibility and environmental stewardship are corporate cornerstones.

130 Adelaide St. W, Suite 1901
Toronto, ON M5H 3P5
Tel: (416) 364-4938
Email: [email protected]

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