The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) passed its proposed far-reaching draft regulation to implement the Conflict Mineral Law; this regulation was passed by the SEC on August 22, 2012. The law would require U.S. and foreign companies to report and make public the use of "conflict minerals" from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its adjoining countries. The 9 adjoining countries are: Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Congo Republic (a different nation than DRC), Angola, Sudan, Central African Republic, Zambia and Uganda.
The purpose of these regulations is to limit funding to armed groups which control mining operations in conflict regions, including but not limited to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which are known to involve forced and child labor working extremely long hours under dangerous conditions.
Fastron supports worldwide concerns that metals mined in conflict areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) may be making their way into the electronics supply chain. Fastron policy requires our supply chain partners to certify in writing that they do not knowingly procure Gold, Tin, Tungsten and Tantalum from conflict areas of the DRC. Fastron has either obtained or is in the process of obtaining information from our suppliers concerning the origins of metals used in the manufacture of products they distribute. Due to traceability issues and the lack of mines or smelters effectively participating in the regulation Fastron cannot certify with 100% certainty that our supply chain is Conflict Free until supply chain transparency is more discernible.
Fastron requests that each of our suppliers verify that the manufacturers which they represent source their raw materials from conflict-free sources and provide a statement to that effect. If there is any change in the supply chain that could result in Fastron receiving products containing conflict minerals, please report it immediately.