AVX is a participant in the Electronic Industry Code of Conduct (EICC) and the Global E-Sustanability Initiative (GeSI) conflict-free smelter programme and the Tantalum-Niobium International Study Centre (TIC) and supports the position of the Electronic Components, Assemblies and Materials Association (ECA) toward the same result. The exclusive use of EICC/GeSI-validated smelters is expected to be the cornerstone of pending SEC regulations concerning the Dodd-Frank legislation, which industry analysts expect will be announced by August’s end.
“Employing only EICC/GeSI independently validated, conflict-free smelters—in addition to our own supply chain assessment activities—has allowed us to assure our customers of our compliance with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, due diligence guidelines as well as with the provisions detailed in the Dodd-Frank law,” said Bill Millman, director of quality and technology for AVX’s tantalum division. “We also expect that the conflict-free tantalum policies that we already have in place will make us compliant with related and currently pending SEC regulations. Several other manufacturers are making efforts to attain validated compliance with these provisions; but, at present, AVX is the only company that meets these exacting standards.”
AVX also exclusively sources the tantalum powder and wire used to manufacture its tantalum capacitors from smelters whose compliance with the EICC and the GeSI programme has been verified.