The Conflict-Free Sourcing Initiative has published its new Conflict Minerals Reporting Template (CMRT 4.0).
A multi-industry tool to facilitate transfer of information throughout the supply chain in support of conflict-free sourcing, CMRT 4.0 includes an updated Standard Smelter List and numerous translation improvements.
A key update reflected in the CMRT 4.0 is the amendment of the question and answer language in the Declaration to conform to changes adopted by the IPC-1755 Conflict Minerals Data Exchange standard in March. In addition, the Smelter Reference List now displays commonly used alternate names for smelters, as well as their city, province and country. These changes will assist CMRT users with confirming the identity of the smelters they are reporting.
CFSI’s website contains a list of revisions from version 3.02 and a downloadable MS Excel version of the Standard Smelter List.
CFSI recommends that companies use CMRT 3.0, 3.01 or 3.02 versions for the collection of 2014 supply chain data, and the 3.02 version of the Standard Smelter List, for filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission in 2015 where required. CMRT 4.0 is not recommended for filing 2014 supply chain data, but is designed for 2015 reporting.
More than 1,300 companies made their first conflict minerals filings last year in accordance with a new Securities and Exchange Commission rule, though the number was far less than expected, according to a report by Ernst & Young.
Early estimates indicated around 6,000 companies would be affected by the rule and that 4,500 would be required to file a conflict minerals report with the SEC. Ultimately only 1,315 companies filed a Form SD, and of those, only 77 percent filed an associated CMR.
Many companies indicated that they were unlikely to meet the May 31, 2014 deadline.