THE FAIRMINED CERTIFICATION
The Fairmined Certification is assurance that an artisanal and small-scale mining organization complies with the requirements of the Fairmined Standard developed by the Alliance for Responsible Mining.
Fairmined Certification creates opportunities for miners and gives the mining organizations incentives to become an economically, technologically, and environmentally viable economic enterprise in a responsible manner. It facilitates access to fair markets and grants them a premium to promote development, which benefits mining communities and improves the sector’s governance.
There are two types of certification: Fairmined Certification and Fairmined Ecological Certification.
Although the same process must be followed for both types of certification, metal production criteria for ecological metals are more demanding; however, it also grants an Ecological Premium in addition to the Fairmined Premium.
International and independent inspectors recognized by the Alliance for Responsible Mining audit and assure compliance with the Standard’s requirements.
©MANUELA FRANCO
Who is eligible for Fairmined Certification?
Fairmined Certification applies solely to artisanal and small-scale mining organizations, as defined by requirement 0.2 – “Artisanal and Small-scale” Scope – of the Fairmined Standard.
The Fairmined Standard is for gold, silver and platinum from artisanal and small-scale mining. The ASMO is certified under the Fairmined Standard’s requirements or the advanced requirements for ecological metals under the same Standard.
The geographic scope of producing countries includes low and medium income countries qualifying for Official Development Assistance (ODA) inLatin America and the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and Oceania: Visit website
What are the requirements needed to become Fairmined certified?
Before applying for Certification, your organization must have a legal title that enables it to work in your mining area and it must comply with the entry-level requirements of the Fairmined Standard.
Entry-level requirements must be fulfilled in order to qualify for certification and are based on a series of organizational, work-related, environmental, and traceability criteria.
To assess your organization’s conditions against the Standard, we invite you to go through the Fairmined checklist.
©SAM
Steps towards Fairmined Certification
Complete
your application
Fill out the application form and scan the documents that appear on the form. Subsequently, send your application form to: cert@responsiblemines.org
Application
assessment
ARM’s assesses the application form. When it is approved, ARM sends the application to the authorized certification body. The authorized certification services bodies are IMOcert and NaturaCert.
Prepare
for the audit
It is recommended to have prepared all the processes and required documents by the auditor. The authorized auditing certification firm proposes an audit plan to the mining organization, which includes inspection dates and an audit schedule.
Audit
documentary and physical
The auditors carry out the auditing process. At the end of the audit, the authorized certification auditing firm presents the findings in a closing meeting.
Certification
for one year
Once it is confirmed that the mining organization complies with all requirements, the certification body will issue the mining organization’s certificate. From this moment on, the mining organization is Fairmined certified for a one-year period.
Post-certification
Keep improving
Fairmined Certification is a process of continuous improvement. After being certified the mining organization must receive annual audits to verify compliance with the Fairmined Standard.
For more information on how to become Fairmined Certified download the complete document “Steps towards Fairmined Certification”
Download our infographics “The steps towards Fairmined Certification” and “Mining Organization Responsibility levels“
For more information on the certification process, visit the frequently asked questions or contact cert@responsiblemines.org
Keep in mind the following forms and documents for Fairmined Certification:
• Process and timelines of the Fairmined Certification
• IMO’s Fairmined mining control and certification procedures
• IMO’s appeals and complaints procedure
• IMO´s arbitration procedures
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