OECD – BRAND

🌐 OECD Due Diligence Guidance – Compliance with BRAND

Overview of the OECD Guidance

The OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas is the internationally recognized gold standard for risk-based supply chain due diligence. Originally designed for the mineral and metals sector, it has since been adopted by companies and standards bodies across sectors including jewellery, electronics, apparel, and agriculture.

The Guidance outlines a 5-Step Framework that helps companies identify, assess, and address actual and potential adverse impacts in their supply chains—especially when sourcing from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas (CAHRAs).

This approach is now embedded in many legal and voluntary standards, including:

RJC COP & COC

EU Conflict Minerals Regulation

EU CSDDD (Draft)

SA8000:2025/6

UNGPs & ILO Conventions

The 5-Step Framework

🔹 Step 1: Establish Strong Company Management Systems

Develop policies and procedures for responsible sourcing
Maintain supplier codes of conduct and contractual obligations
Train staff and suppliers

🔹Step 2: Identify & Assess Risks in the Supply Chain

Collect supplier information
Map supply chains to the source
Assess risk of association with conflict or human rights violations

🔹 Step 3: Design & Implement a Strategy to Respond to Identified Risks

Assign accountability
Suspend or disengage from high-risk suppliers if necessary
Collaborate to build supplier capacity

🔹 Step 4: Carry Out Independent Third-Party Audit

Conduct or participate in audits focused on conflict minerals or human rights
Retain credible records

🔹 Step 5: Publicly Report on Due Diligence

Publish supply chain due diligence statements
Communicate with stakeholders on risk mitigation and findings

How BRAND Supports OECD-Aligned Due Diligence

Policy Repository: Store and version-control policies, training materials, and supply agreements
Staff & Supplier Training Logs: Document participation, completion dates, and refresher intervals
Clause Tagging: Link documents directly to OECD expectations or equivalent clauses in aligned standards

Supply Chain Mapping: Interactive mapping of upstream suppliers to tier 2/3, including origins and transit countries
Automated Risk Profiling: Score suppliers based on geography, sector, CAHRA exposure, and audit history
Document Collection: Collect origin information, transport documentation, and supplier declarations
Red Flag Indicators: Alerts for missing data, unverifiable origin, or presence in CAHRAs

CAPA Tools: Assign corrective actions based on specific risk findings
Supplier Communication Log: Track emails, site visits, and capacity-building initiatives
Escalation Settings: Automatically flag repeat issues or high-risk suppliers to senior managers

Audit Repository: Centralize all third-party audit reports, self-assessments, and corrective actions
Audit Trail Logs: Ensure traceability of any changes or updates to supplier risk profiles
Reviewer Access: Enable external auditors to access secure supplier folders for validation

Due Diligence Statement Generator: Export templated reports aligned with OECD and CSDDD expectations
Dashboard Summary Reports: Create visual summaries of supply chain risk and remediation
Evidence-Linked Reports: Provide traceability for each claim with document reference

Use Cases

Identifying gold, tungsten, or diamond suppliers operating in CAHRAs

Generating annual OECD-aligned due diligence reports for publication

Demonstrating compliance for RJC, COC, or EU disclosure obligations

Screening artisanal mining sources for elevated risk and developing action plans

Summary

BRAND takes the complexity out of OECD due diligence by guiding your team through each step—from policy to public disclosure—with real-time alerts, structured documentation, and a clear audit trail. Whether used for legal compliance, standard certification, or investor assurance, BRAND ensures your due diligence stands up to scrutiny.