We reported previously on the ruling by the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit striking down the part of the SEC’s conflict minerals rules that requires a registrant to describe its products as not “DRC conflict free” and upholding the remainder of the conflict minerals rules. Many observers have been eagerly awaiting the SEC’s response to this decision, including whether the SEC will delay the implementation of the conflict minerals rules.
On April 29, 2014, the SEC issued its response to the court’s decision in the conflict minerals rules challenge. In short, the SEC affirmed the June 2, 2014 deadline for registrants to file Form SD and their conflict minerals reports. Consistent with the court’s ruling, the SEC stated that registrants will not be required to describe their products as “DRC conflict free,” having “not been found to be ‘DRC conflict free,’” or “DRC conflict undeterminable.”
If a registrant voluntarily elects to describe any of its products as “DRC conflict free” in its conflict minerals report, it would be permitted to do so provided it had obtained an independent private sector audit (IPSA) as required by the conflict minerals rules. Pending further action from the SEC, an IPSA will not be required unless a registrant voluntarily elects to describe a product as “DRC conflict free” in its conflict minerals report.
Compliance with the conflict minerals rules can be a substantial undertaking. Registrants need to continue their compliance efforts and be prepared for the June 2, 2014 deadline.
