The EU Conflict Minerals Regulation (“EU Regulation”) is aimed at reducing the financing of armed conflicts through the trade of valuable minerals. But, before the EU Regulation went into full effect on 1 January 2021, the UK completed its separation from the EU. To understand what the EU Regulation means for them following Brexit, importers into the UK need to take into account the concept of “EU retained law,” the application of the Northern Ireland Protocol, the recent introduction of the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill 2022-23, and the implication of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
In this publication, we discuss the EU Regulation and its application in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.