In October 2015 China launched its consultation for Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Mineral Supply Chains and the final Chinese Due Diligence was launched in December 2015. The guidance is expected to be published in January 2016.
Initially, the participation in the rule will be voluntary, and the scope includes all Chinese companies using or are engaged at any point in the supply chain of minerals and related products. Companies using or engaged in the supply chain of other natural resources are also encouraged to use the Guidelines as a reference.
Covered minerals include: Gold;cassiterite and other tin materials; wolframite and other tungsten minerals; and "coltan and concentrates that contain niobium or tantalum (coltan, columbite, tantalite, niobite, pyrochlorite and other Nb-Ta minerals)."
For more information visit the OECD website at: http://mneguidelines.oecd.org/chinese-due-diligence-guidelines-for-responsible-mineral-supply-chains.htm