How the OECD mineral due diligence framework works
The framework helps companies examine mineral-sourcing risks and explain how they address them. Its application depends on the mineral and the company’s position in the supply chain. The five stages can be summarized as follows:
- Put governance, supplier policies and traceability arrangements in place.
- Investigate the supply chain and evaluate the risks it presents.
- Choose a response, act on it and track progress in addressing identified risks.
- Arrange independent review of due diligence at the relevant supply-chain points.
- Make the company’s due diligence approach and actions publicly available.
Consult the OECD Council Recommendation and its five-step framework for the full requirements, explanations and annexes.
Preserved third-edition description
The description below relates to the third edition and its original publication context; its edition and participation details are retained as historical source information.
The OECD Due Diligence Guidance provides detailed recommendations to help companies respect human rights and avoid contributing to conflict through their mineral purchasing decisions and practices. This Guidance is for use by any company potentially sourcing minerals or metals from conflict-affected and high-risk areas. The OECD Guidance is global in scope and applies to all mineral supply chains.
The 3rd Edition of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance was published in April 2016. This booklet contains the OECD Council Recommendation, the text of the Guidance, the 3Ts Supplement and the Gold Supplement. The updated version clarifies that the Guidance provides a framework for detailed due diligence as a basis for responsible supply chain management of minerals, including tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold, as well as all other mineral resources. In addition to the 37 OECD Members, 9 non-Members, namely Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Croatia, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Peru and Romania and Ukraine, adhered to the Council Recommendation.
Related mineral governance reading
Explore critical minerals and land governance and artisanal and small-scale mining. For newer official context, see the OECD’s Due diligence essentials for responsible minerals (2026).