Schwarz statement regarding usage of the “conflict materials”.
On 22. August 2012 the US Securities and Exchange Commission issued the requirements and regulations of the Dodd-Frank Act for reporting and disclosure in regards to usage of “conflict materials”.
Under the term “conflict materials” shall be understood the Dodd-Frank-Act raw materials tin, tantalum, tungsten, columbite, gold and their derivatives mined in the conflict regions such as Democratic Republic of the Congo and the neighbouring states thereof.
The goal is to dam or to stop the trade of the conflict materials originated in the DR Congo and its neighbour countries, which contributes to financing of the armed conflicts on their territory.
Schwarz is not subjected to the US legislation and therefore not bound to the reporting obligation of the Dodd-Frank-Act. Nevertheless, we are aware of the importance of this regulation and take seriously our responsibility toward the environment, health, safety and human rights and understand that our business activities influence on society and environment.
We do not use conflict materials or their derivatives from the conflict regions! Together with our suppliers we are working on the required transparency of the supply chain to be able to provide the reliable information to our customers.
At this point, we have no information, that conflict materials would be used in our supply chain.