text: Already in 2017 the EU issued a directive on several ‘conflict minerals’ (tin, tantalum and tungsten, their 
  ores, and gold). Its functioning is described in the preamble as follows:*‘… supply chain due diligence is*
  *an ongoing, proactive and reactive process through which economic operators monitor and administer*
  *their purchases and sales with a view to ensuring that they do not contribute to conflict or the adverse*
  *impacts thereof.’*322 