Exotica Valves'™ Conflict Minerals Policy
Exotica Valves™ recognizes that there are serious human rights abuses associated with the extraction, transportation and trade in certain minerals, often referred to as "Conflict Minerals", in the covered countries mentioned below. We have always supported responsible sourcing of materials from suppliers that share our values and we commit to avoid contributing to the conflict through our sourcing activity.
Definitions. The term “covered countries” means the Democratic Republic of the Congo (the “DRC”) and its adjoining countries. “Conflict minerals” means tin (cassiterite), tungsten (wolframite), tantalum (columbite-tantalite or coltan), gold or their derivatives, which originate in the covered countries.
As expressed in our code of conduct, Exotica Valves™ does not tolerate any corruption of any kind in dealings with its suppliers, and we expect our suppliers to adhere to the same standard. We work with our suppliers in a socially responsible and ethical manner. A potential supplier is selected and retained only after it has evidenced in writing its adherence to our code of conduct and other internal compliance requirements, including health and safety, and environmental. In addition, we audit our top suppliers annually years to ensure adherence to our code of conduct. We have developed this conflict minerals policy to supplement our code of conduct.
Exotica Valves'™ Conflict Minerals Policy
Exotica Valves™ is committed to purchase only those parts and products containing minerals that have been procured through a validated conflict-free supply chain, so as to avoid the use of minerals that have financed conflict in the covered countries, and we expect our suppliers to abide by the same standard.
Exotica Valves™ is taking a variety of actions designed to assist in compliance with the conflict minerals rules. For example:
•We have identified, and will continue to identify, conflict minerals necessary for the production or the functionality of covered products that we sell;
•We have performed, and intend to continue to perform, supply chain due diligence in general accordance with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s internationally recognized and established due diligence framework;
•We expect our direct suppliers to perform similar due diligence on the sources of conflict minerals in their supply chains, and expect them to require their own suppliers to do the same;
•Once a robust and validated conflict-free supply chain is established or a robust mineral tracing program is developed, we will expect our direct suppliers to procure only minerals using that validated supply chain, so as to avoid the use of minerals that have financed conflict in the covered countries; and
•In the event that a direct supplier is found to supply us with necessary conflict minerals that have not been procured through a validated supply chain or that are otherwise found to have financed conflict, we will take action such as recommending that such supplier seek alternative means of sourcing, or failing that, we will reassess the supplier relationship.
This Policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure ongoing suitability, and is in addition to our suppliers’ basic obligations to comply with Exotica Valves™' standards.
