On 22 August 2012 the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued the final rule accompanying Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Act...The rule requires companies using gold, tin, tungsten and tantalum to make efforts to determine if those materials came from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) or an adjoining country and, if so, to carry out supply chain due diligence to determine whether their mineral purchases are funding armed groups in eastern DRC. It also requires companies to report publicly on their due diligence and to have their reports independently audited. The initial reporting period starts in January 2013. This page follows commentaries, tools & guidance, and company actions to implement the rule. [Refers to Avnet, Dell, General Electric, Intel, Praxis, Squire Sanders]