Recognition by International Organizations
The Group of Eight (G8), the international forum for the governments of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, recognized the importance of the Cyanide Code in a communique issued during its 2007 annual meeting (G8-Gipfel, 2007).
The World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation (IFC), which provides funds for mine development projects, incorporated the Cyanide Code when it updated its EHS Guidelines for Mining in 2007, and in place of its own standards, requires (IFC, 2007) that mines seeking its financial assistance operate in a manner “consistent with the principles and standards of practice of [Cyanide] Code.” The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD, 2012) similarly requires Cyanide Code compliance in their loan agreements to gold mines or otherwise encourage projects they fund that use cyanide to implement the Cyanide Code.
The gold industry’s leading organization, the World Gold Council, has voiced support for the Cyanide Code and incorporated it in their Responsible Gold Mining Principles. Similarly, the Responsible Jewellery Council, the standards body for the production of responsible jewelry, requires its mining members that use cyanide have the applicate sites Cyanide Code certified.
Guidelines for Social Responsibility in Outbound Mining Investments issued by the China Chamber of Commerce of Metals, Minerals & Chemicals Importers & Exporters encourages Chinese companies to ensure that applicable sites are certified to the Cyanide Code.