Federal Bill Would Prohibit Import of Products Containing "Conflict" Coltan and Cassiterite

Published June 29, 2008

USA - Federal - Restricted Substances Overview

On May 22, 2008, Senators Samuel Brownback (R-KS) and Richard Durbin (D-IL) introduced S.3058, the "Conflict Coltan and Cassiterite Act of 2008" ("S.3058"). S.3058, among other things, proposes to prohibit the importation of products that contain or are derived from columbite-tantalite or cassiterite mined in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (“DRC”), if such sales would benefit armed groups committing human rights abuses. The Senate referred S.3058 to the Finance Committee, and no action has been taken on the Bill since its introduction.