Since 2018 the Lugano Commodity Trading Association (LCTA) offers every year a scholarship opportunity for the CAS Commodity Professional (next edition: 6 May 2021).
Study content
Commodity trading and related services have grown significant in the Swiss economy, and they are expanding even further. These companies are in search of talents.
In cooperation with the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, the Lugano Commodity Trading Association (LCTA) and the Zug Commodity Association (ZCA) offer a certificate of advanced studies CAS for commodity professionals. The certificate programme will provide attendants with a thorough understanding of the commodity industry and its characteristics. The course work will provide students from the commodity sector with detailed skills, students from commodity service providers the ability to better understand their clients, and give all graduates tools to enhance their careers. The CAS Commodity Professional combines theoretical know-how with hands-on learning experience provided by accomplished guest speakers. This programme prepares the participants to take on management or specialist functions within the commodity industry.
Basics of Commodity & Geopolitical Dynamics
Commodities within the value chain
Shipping and Transport
Trade Finance
Basics of Risk Management
Legal Aspects and Compliance
Scholarship amount: CHF 9,800
Application requirements:
To apply to the LCTA scholarship, applicants must fulfil the following criteria:
Employee of a company, which is member of the LCTA
Tertiary education (as minimum level)
Good marks in the previous educations
Multi language. In particular, good knowledge of the English language (fully taught in English)
International skills
Letter of reference from the employer or from a key-person in the commodity trading sector
The scholarship is granted if the following conditions are fulfilled:
The student is required to have an 80% attendance at the lessons
The student has to pass all the exams
The student has to carry out a research on a topic related to the Lugano commodity trading hub (defined by the board of the LCTA)
Please send your application documents by our email: info@lcta.ch
https://www.lcta.ch/site/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/mano-e-lampadina-unsplash.jpg15881981LCTA Editorhttps://www.lcta.ch/site/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/LCTA-Logo-10y-r02-01.pngLCTA Editor2021-03-26 10:30:002021-04-12 08:56:12CAS Commodity Professional and LCTA Scholarship
Published on March 9, 2021 – translated in English by LCTA
Ticino is experiencing good growth in the commodities trading sector. What are the characteristics that enable this trend?
Many characteristic elements of the “Swiss System” are fundamental for the sector, to name just a few: political stability and legal certainty, tax conditions and a banking system that is traditionally active in the commodity trade finance. In the leading cantons in terms of intensity of activity in the sector, these aspects are complemented by the availability of skills, which mainly stems from historical reasons, from the establishment over time of some companies that have subsequently become leaders in their respective markets. The consequent ability to attract talent and subsequent spin-offs have created a virtuous circle in the most active cantons – and Ticino is no exception – that has led us to the data published in recent days.
Your association is committed to this growth. What are the main initiatives you plan to take in the future to support the sector?
The virtuous circle I referred to earlier must be supported and nurtured so that it continues to create value and growth. LCTA has been active for ten years, during which we have been committed to training new human resources and offering continuing education opportunities to those already employed. In parallel, the association carries out continuous communication with stakeholders and promotion activities to foster the development of new relationships and keep the soil fertile for the establishment of new businesses and the growth of existing ones. We will of course continue with these activities and are gearing up for new challenges. Competitiveness will also depend on new factors; there will be technological aspects and process efficiency on which we will have to work as a sector, in a coordinated manner, involving players at different levels of our supply chains. The cantonal trade associations, and STSA at federal level, are the right places to address these issues and develop solutions that will allow the “Swiss System” to remain at the top of the world.
It is said that this type of business is ‘volatile’. Is this true?
It depends on the noun to which you attach the adjective ‘volatile’. If we talk about the more speculative aspects fundamentally linked to financial markets, we would have to open a long debate, but commodity trading at international level is probably one of the oldest activities that still takes place on a large scale, and it has basically remained unchanged over the centuries. I would add that the largest companies in the sector have a fair amount of longevity, so all in all it is a pretty solid and traditional business, serving basic needs such as the supply of materials that are often essential for survival. It is essential, to be successful, to have the tools to deal with the volatility of the markets in which we operate. One of the essential tasks of trading companies, especially in certain commodities, is to absorb volatility and absorb its effects along the supply chain so that they do not amplify. Precisely in order to fulfil this and other tasks of coordinating activities within the supply chains of which we are part, trading companies must have a solid foundation, risk management skills and the cyclicality of the markets.
What kind of jobs have been created in Ticino?
LCTA, in collaboration with its cousins in the Zug Commodity Association (ZCA), has created a post-graduate training program to make up for the lack of university courses dedicated to international commodities trading, thus favoring the training of highly qualified young people and the further growth of people already working in the sector. Our basic training continues to train staff in a multidisciplinary manner. In addition to this, we work to make the environment more attractive, so that we can complement local talent with talent from abroad and further enrich our companies with experience. In recent years, in any case, the professions that have come to Ticino range from the trader to the logistics or insurance expert, from the person dealing with the financing of raw materials to those who have made IT their focal point of development, from the pure mathematician to the meteorology expert. These are skilled jobs, involving the most disparate (sometimes surprising) disciplines and normally well paid.
https://www.lcta.ch/site/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Matteo-Somaini-014-scaled.jpg17072560LCTA Editorhttps://www.lcta.ch/site/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/LCTA-Logo-10y-r02-01.pngLCTA Editor2021-03-12 15:10:212021-03-18 11:53:06Matteo Somaini, President at Lugano Commodity Trading Association, Interview by Corriere del Ticino
Dear Members of the Lugano Commodity Trading Association (LCTA),
2021 marks the tenth anniversary of your Association. LCTA has evolved considerably over the years attracting more and more companies active in commodity trading, shipping, insurance and commodity trade finance. With their commitment, the founders of the LCTA have made a lasting contribution to the development of a dynamic commodity trading hub in Southern Switzerland. Today, Lugano is the third commodity trading hub in Switzerland. Your companies play an important role for the economy of the entire region.
For these reasons, the City of Lugano has supported LCTA from the very beginning, collaborating in the promotion of the Lugano commodity trading hub through international missions and in the organization of events, such as the Global Commodities Conference at the LAC, or simply by hosting at Palazzo Civico the participants of the graduation ceremony for the “Certificate of Advanced Studies – Commodity Professional”.
To succeed in the very competitive environment of commodity trading you tackle challenges with professionalism, determination and enthusiasm. With the same spirit, we strive to make Lugano the ideal place to live and work, for you and your families.
I wish you every success. Cento di questi giorni LCTA!
Marco Borradori, Mayor of Lugano
https://www.lcta.ch/site/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/SALVIT_130730_Borradori-12.002-scaled.jpg17092560LCTA Editorhttps://www.lcta.ch/site/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/LCTA-Logo-10y-r02-01.pngLCTA Editor2021-03-12 14:07:552021-03-12 14:24:18Greetings from the Mayor of Lugano
On 28 September 2020 the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) released new reporting Guidelines for companies buying oil, gas and minerals from governments.
Payments by companies purchasing natural resources generate a significant portion of public revenues in some of the world’s poorest countries. Such payments are exposed to governance risks as they may take place in environments of weak institutions and widespread corruption. Risks have been identified at various levels, including the selection of buyers and allocation of sales contracts; sales transactions and collection of revenues; and transfer of proceeds to the treasury. The EITI Guidelines represent a further step towards greater transparency in natural resources and complement mirroring reporting requirements for selling entities, building on the 2019 EITI Standard which requires governments to disclose volumes received and sold as well as revenues from any oil, gas or mining-related deal.
The 2020 Guidelines’ key disclosure requirements for buying companies are as follows:
Who is selling the product? (counterparty name – seller; counterparty country, load port)
Who is buying the products? (buying entity name)
What product is being purchased? (product type; volume purchased)
What does the buyer pay to the seller for the product?
Companies can use the templates annexed to the Guidelines for their disclosures. The forms offer different levels of disaggregation of the data presented: volumes and values by individual seller; volumes by cargo, and values by individual seller; or volumes and values by cargo. Further, the Guidelines address swaps and resource backed loans. Three Swiss-based commodity trading firms (Glencore, Gunvor and Trafigura), are already disclosing their transactions around oil and mining where states or SOEs are concerned in yearly reports.
Beside demonstrating their financial contribution to the economies of the countries from which they purchase commodities, regular disclosures can increase a company’s reputation and its social license to operate. Improved transparency may also facilitate access to capital from financial institutions, notably in light of the investors’ growing sensitivity to environment, social and governance (ESG) criteria, as well as the emergence of sustainability-linked financing schemes. As more and more governments in the 55 EITI implementing countries include information on receipts from the sale of natural resources in their annual reports, company-level reporting also provides companies with the opportunity to contextualize and complement information being disclosed by state and state-owned enterprises counterparts.
Switzerland is not an EITI implementing country. Nevertheless, through the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), Switzerland has directly supported the elaboration of the EITI Guidelines and is urging trading companies to use the Guidelines to build trust in a more transparent and accountable commodity trading sector. Promoting the development and adoption of a global standard also serves the purpose of preserving the level playing field vis-à-vis other trading hubs. Last but not least, Swiss-based companies can shape the development of future disclosure standards by taking part in the activities of the EITI Working Group on Transparency in Commodity Trading, a forum which also includes representatives of civil society, host and home countries governments and state-owned enterprises.
The reform of the Swiss corporate law recently approved by the Parliament stops short from requiring companies to disclose payments to SOEs for the purchase of natural resources. The amendments to the Swiss “Code of Obligations” – not yet in force – mirror the content of EU Directives 2013/34 and 2013/50, requiring companies active in the exploitation of natural resources to publicly disclose in a special report all payments to public authorities that exceed CHF 100,000 per year. Thus, this new disclosure requirement will only affect companies that extract raw materials. Nevertheless, the Federal Council is authorized, as part of an “internationally coordinated approach”, to extend the scope of application to companies that trade raw materials (see new Art. 964 f of the Swiss Code of Obligations).
Public attention towards good governance and transparency is growing, as shown by the narrow rejection of the “Responsible Business Initiative” in Switzerland. The Biden administration has been urged to reengage with EITI after the previous administration decision to withdraw the United States from the initiative in 2017. These elements, combined with increased challenges for public budgets posed by COVID-19, suggest that the high-water mark for boundary-pushing transparency standards may still lie ahead of us.
The EITI Guidelines and the reporting templates are available at this link
Dr. Pietro Poretti currently serves as Head, Economic Development Division, Città di Lugano. In 2019-2020 he consulted for the EITI Secretariat and assisted in the development of the transparency Guidelines.
https://www.lcta.ch/site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/screenshot20160530at133450.png9092232LCTA Editorhttps://www.lcta.ch/site/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/LCTA-Logo-10y-r02-01.pngLCTA Editor2021-02-16 08:53:482021-02-17 08:23:51EITI puts traders under spotlight on government deals
In order to tackle the COVID-19 emergency, the Canton of Ticino has activated an information hotline for companies:0840 117 112 / attivita-commerciali@ti.ch
16 April 2021
Coronavirus: Next phase of reopening on 19 April
8 February 2021
Coronavirus: special rules for entering Switzerland
These rules apply to all people who are permitted to enter Switzerland. That means they also apply if you are Swiss and returning to Switzerland after being abroad. You will find information on the individual rules and requirements at this link.
27 January2021
Federal government to cover costs of tests for persons without symptoms and modify quarantine rules
The federal government will now pay for persons without symptoms to be tested so that those who are particularly vulnerable can be better protected and local outbreaks of infection can be contained early on. The quarantine rules have also been modified: with a negative test result a person may now come out of quarantine after seven rather than the full ten days.
13 January 2021
Federal council extends measures
restaurants, cultural venues, and sports and leisure facilities are to remain closed until the end of February
requirement to work from home
shops selling non-essential goods will be closed
restrictions on private events and gatherings
protecting people at especially high risk
12 August 2020
Large-scale events to be permitted from October under strict conditions and with a permit
The Federal Council took the decision to re-allow events for more than 1000 people from 1 October. Strict protective measures will apply and the events will have to be authorized by the cantons.
The Federal Council has also decided that masks will have to be worn during flights from 15 August. The wearing of masks on public transport has been compulsory since 6 July. The measure concerns all scheduled and charter flights taking off from or landing in Switzerland, regardless of airline.
26 June 2020
Workers from third countries to be permitted to enter Switzerland again
Workers from third countries to be permitted to enter Switzerland again
Since 11 May various steps have been taken to relax restrictions on entry to Switzerland.
6 July the Federal Council will lift all corona-related restrictions on the admission of workers from third countries.
Third-country citizens are still not permitted to travel to Switzerland on holiday: entry for a stay of less than 90 days that does not normally require a permit will only be authorized in cases of special necessity.
Admission to work in the tourism or culture sectors again possible or to take education or training courses while working, e.g. as an au-pair, agricultural trainee or on a youth exchange program.
12 June 2020
Switzerland to lift COVID restrictions regarding all EU/EFTA states
The Federal Council took note of the decision taken by the FDJP to lift the entry restrictions that currently apply between all Schengen States as of 15 June. Controls at Swiss borders with these states will end on this date and full free movement of persons will be restored with all EU/EFTA states and with the United Kingdom.
Full free movement of persons with EU/EFTA states and the UK.
From 15 June, full free movement of persons will once again apply with all EU/EFTA states and the United Kingdom. All EU states with the exception of Bulgaria, Ireland, Croatia, Romania and Cyprus belong to the Schengen area. These six countries will remain on the high-risk list after 15 June, which means that restrictions will continue to apply to third country nationals wishing to enter Switzerland from these countries.
27 May 2020
Federal Council decides on extensive easing of measures as of 6 June
All events for up to 300 people may now go ahead. Spontaneous gatherings of up to 30 people are now permitted. Large-scale events with more than 1000 people continue to be prohibited until August 31st. All leisure and entertainment businesses and tourist attractions may reopen. Hygiene and social distancing rules must still be observed. The Federal Council has also decided to end the extraordinary situation under the terms of the Epidemics Act with effect from 19 June.
Recommendations on working from home remain in place. Businesses are free to decide on a return to the workplace. The Federal Council continues to recommend that people continue to work from home, not least to avoid overcrowding on public transport. Staff at especially high risk continue to enjoy protection. Employers are still required to allow people at high risk to work from home. If it is essential for someone to work on site, the employer must take steps to protect that person by adapting working processes or the workplace.
16 April 2020
Federal Council to gradually ease measures against the new coronavirus
The Swiss Federal Council has decided that step by step starting from April 27 (in Canton Ticino from May 4, due to a more delicate situation), May 11 and June 8, companies are allowed to reopen provided they have a protection plan in place. (Art. 6, para 3, Ordinance 2 COVID-19)
The aim of the protection plan is to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Here are some basic principles for preventing transmission:
Hand hygiene and surface disinfection
Social and professional distancing
Encouraging teleworking and virtual meeting, installing physical barriers in the offices
Protection of vulnerable persons
Sick people should stay at home
And more concretely for a company:
All persons in the company shall clean their hands regularly.
Employees and other persons shall keep a distance of two meters between them.
Clean regularly surfaces and objects
Vulnerable persons are given adequate protection
Sick people are sent home
Employees and other persons concerned are informed of the regulations and measures taken
The instructions are implemented at management level in order to effectively implement and adapt the protective measures.
15 April 2020
The Canton of Ticino presented the first step to ease measures against the COVID-19 in force from April 20 to April 26. here
27 March2020
The Canton of Ticino has updated the measures to fight COVID-19, here the last Order.
25 March 2020
Federal Council adopts emergency ordinance on granting of credits with joint and several federal guarantees
The Federal Council adopted emergency ordinance on granting of credits with joint and several federal guarantees. During its extraordinary meeting on 25 March 2020, the Federal Council addressed the issue of liquidity assistance for SMEs, which should have rapid access to credit facilities to bridge liquidity shortfalls caused by the new coronavirus pandemic. Companies are advised to apply for the credit facilities at their main bank. Facilities will be secured by the Confederation. The corresponding ordinance enters into force on 26 March 2020, from which date credit applications can be submitted.
A quick and straightforward process;
Affected companies can apply to their banks for bridging credit facilities representing a maximum of 10% of their annual turnover and no more than CHF 20 million. Certain minimum criteria must be met. In particular, the company must declare that it is suffering substantial reductions in turnover because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Credits of up to CHF 500,000 will be fully secured by the Confederation, and will be paid out quickly and with the minimum of bureaucracy. Zero interest will be charged. The credit application form will be available on the website “covid19.easygov.swiss” from Thursday, after the ordinance enters into force.
Bridging credits that exceed CHF 500,000 will be secured by the Confederation to 85% of their value; the lending bank will secure the remaining 15%. Each company can obtain a credit of this type for up to CHF 20 million, which means a more rigorous bank review will be required. The interest rate on these credits is currently 0.5% on the loan secured by the Confederation. Companies with a turnover of more than CHF 500 million are not covered by this programme.
With regard to the measure on the closure of economy RG 1570, in particular as to point 7: “All activities that can be carried out remotely at home are permitted. Access to offices is not permitted for the public. Any presence in the office must be limited and is only possible in compliance with the rules of hygiene and social distance”, trading companies are invited to extend smart-working from home as much as possible and, as far as possible, to keep in the office only a minimum number of staff that is essential for the main activity. This staff should respect the rules of hygiene and social distance. Under no circumstances are the offices open to the public.
16 March 2020
Federal Council declares ‘extraordinary situation’ and introduces more stringent measures
The Federal Council has declared an “extraordinary situation” in terms of the Epidemics Act and has introduced new measures. The declaration of “extraordinary situation” allows the Federal Council to order the introduction of uniform measures in all cantons.
As of March 16 at midnight until April 19 all shops, restaurants, bars and entertainment and leisure facilities will remain closed. Not affected by the new measures are food stores and pharmacies. The Federal Council has also decided to introduce checks on the borders to Germany, Austria and France (to Italy this measure was already taken). The Federal Council has also authorised the deployment of up to 8000 members of the armed forces to assist the cantons at hospitals and with logistics and security.
USEFUL DOCUMENTS
Press release of the Federal Council (16.04.2021): here
Press release of the Federal Council (08.02.2021): here
Press release of the Federal Council (27.01.2021): here
Press release of the Federal Council (13.01.2021):here
Press release of the Federal Council (12.08.2020): here
Press release of the Federal Council (26.06.2020): here
Press release of the Federal Council (12.06.2020): here
Press release of the Federal Council (27.05.2020): here
Press release of the Federal Council (16.04.2020): here
Press release of the Federal Council (16.03.2020): here
Cantonal measures to support Ticino economy (16.03.2020): here
Information on the reduced working hours allowence: here
The secretariat of LCTA is operating, in case of any questions do not hesitate to contact us (info@lcta.ch).
Last update: 10 February 2021
https://www.lcta.ch/site/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ART-Fed-Coronavirus-cdc-w9KEokhajKw-unsplash.jpg9001600lcta_webmasterhttps://www.lcta.ch/site/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/LCTA-Logo-10y-r02-01.pnglcta_webmaster2021-02-10 12:00:002021-04-19 16:06:48COVID-19: latest federal and cantonal measures
La Lugano Commodity Trading Association (LCTA) è un’associazione senza scopo di lucro e riunisce aziende attive nell’ambito del commercio di materie prime, delle spedizioni, delle assicurazioni e del finanziamento di questo settore. Nel 2020 la LCTA ha festeggiato i suoi primi 10 anni e dopo un decennio, il Presidente Thomas Patrick ha deciso di dimettersi. Il Comitato Esecutivo della LCTA, secondo gli statuti, ha eletto il nuovo Presidente: Matteo Somaini, General Manager Finance, DITH. La LCTA vorrebbe cogliere l’occasione per ringraziare il Presidente uscente e sottolineare l’eccezionale contributo da lui dato alla nostra associazione. Thomas Patrick ha sempre mostrato un grande impegno e investimento personale ed è stato fondamentale per i progressi che abbiamo fatto come associazione in dieci anni.
Il cambio di Presidente è stato comunicato ai soci della LCTA in occasione dell’Assemblea Generale Ordinaria che purtroppo quest’anno, a causa della pandemia di COVID-19, non ha potuto tenersi in presenza, ma è stata organizzata in forma scritta. Vorremmo così presentarvi il nuovo Presidente della LCTA con un’intervista.
Sig. Somaini, lei è coinvolto nella LCTA dall’inizio, 10 anni fa, cosa ci può dire dell’evoluzione dell’associazione negli anni?
Quando ci siamo incontrati per la prima volta più di dieci anni fa – la Camera di Commercio, una società di trading e una banca – eravamo sei persone consapevoli che il nostro ambiente fosse in rapida evoluzione, con l’obiettivo di creare valore nelle aree della formazione, del networking e della comunicazione con il pubblico. Dopo dieci anni, la LCTA conta 53 associati e facciamo parte della STSA – l’associazione nazionale con cui coordiniamo la maggior parte delle iniziative pubbliche riguardanti il settore. La nostra associazione organizza formazione continua per le persone attive nel commercio di materie prime e abbiamo avviato da alcuni anni il corso post-laurea “CAS Commodity Professional”, in collaborazione con la Zug Commodity Association e la Hochschule Luzern. Organizziamo una conferenza annuale che attrae a Lugano persone da tutta Europa e partecipiamo ad eventi selezionati all’estero, puntando a creare nuove opportunità per i nostri soci e promuovendo Lugano come importante piazza per il commercio internazionale di materie prime.
È il risultato del duro lavoro del nostro segretario, del presidente uscente e del board, con la collaborazione di tutti i nostri associati. Dieci anni fa non era scontato, soprattutto vista la scarsa abitudine delle nostre aziende al confronto con il pubblico e a fare sistema.
Qual è secondo voi il più grande punto di forza di LCTA?
Direi che è il senso di comunità. In Ticino siamo circa 70 aziende ed impieghiamo oltre 2.000 persone. Con il tempo credo sia maturata nei soci la consapevolezza che non siamo solo individui che lavorano nello stesso settore, spesso si occupano di materie prime diverse, a volte competono sullo stesso mercato. Siamo una comunità, condividiamo lo stesso territorio (Lugano è la nostra base, il mercato globale è il nostro ambiente di lavoro), condividiamo interessi e valori. Penso che la consapevolezza di questo senso di comunità sia allo stesso tempo il principale punto di forza dell’associazione, nonché uno dei risultati più significativi della LCTA nel primo decennio di attività.
Cos’è particolarmente importante per lei come Presidente della LCTA?
Sicuramente considero in primo luogo che tutti i soci si sentano rappresentati nei valori dell’associazione, con l’obiettivo di preservare e far crescere la comunità che abbiamo “scoperto”. In parallelo, la LCTA dovrebbe continuare a concentrarsi per supportare i membri e le nuove aziende del settore, condividendo il know-how e creando valore attraverso la nostra rete.
Cosa non vedi l’ora di fare come Presidente dell’associazione?
Quando abbiamo iniziato a discutere l’idea dell’associazione, nel 2010, stavamo superando una delle più gravi recessioni economiche della storia, percepivamo che il mondo sarebbe stato diverso e avremmo dovuto adattare rapidamente il nostro modus operandi, per soddisfare nuove esigenze, soprattutto sotto la spinta del settore finanziario. È stato uno dei motivi che ci ha uniti. Oggi ci troviamo di fronte a qualcosa di simile, in una certa misura più estremo, probabilmente più rapido, che certamente influisce pesantemente sulle nostre vite quanto sui nostri modelli di business.
La Svizzera è il principale paese al mondo per il finanziamento del commercio di materie prime, primo paese per il trading di energia, metalli e materie prime agricole, e il Ticino è uno dei tre Commodity hub in Svizzera. Compagnie di navigazione con sede in Svizzera movimentano oltre il 20% delle merci spedite via mare. Abbiamo le migliori aziende che forniscono servizi, gestiscono logistica e rischi, a tutti i livelli della catena di fornitura di ogni categoria di merce.
Non vedo l’ora di collaborare con il nostro board, tutti i nostri membri e i nostri colleghi in Svizzera – e perché no in altre importanti piazze in tutto il mondo, come Londra, Singapore e Dubai – per raccogliere le nuove sfide. È un’opportunità di innovazione unica, non solo basata sulla tecnologia. Possiamo guidare la trasformazione attraverso un’innovazione responsabile e spostare l’industria verso un approccio basato sulla co-opetition, mirando a risultati di lungo periodo e sostenibili, per creare valore per tutti gli stakeholder.
https://www.lcta.ch/site/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Foto-Matteo-per-web.jpg11201680lcta_webmasterhttps://www.lcta.ch/site/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/LCTA-Logo-10y-r02-01.pnglcta_webmaster2020-12-14 16:02:542020-12-17 13:45:45Cambio di Presidenza per la LCTA
On 1 January 2021 the EU Regulation 2017/821 of 17 May 2017 (the “Regulation”)[1] will come into force, establishing new mandatory supply chain due diligence obligations for EU-based importers of certain raw materials (tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold) originating from conflict-affected and high-risk areas.
The Regulation aims to prevent that the trade of these minerals directly contribute to finance armed conflicts and/or grave human rights abuses, such as forced labour of mine workers. To this end, the Regulation require EU importers to respect international responsible sourcing standards, set by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in its “Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas”.[2]
1. Companies and Businesses Affected
The Regulation applies to EU-based importers of tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold, whether these are in the form of mineral ores, concentrates or processed metals, provided that certain annual volume thresholds are exceeded. Annex I to the Regulation[3] sets out specific thresholds for most of the covered materials, while the EU Commission has defined the remaining thresholds on 25 June 2020 through a delegated act.[4]
The Regulation does not apply to:
EU importers where their annual import volume of each of the minerals or metals concerned is below the provided thresholds;
Recycled metals, which includes “reclaimed end-user or post-consumer products, or scrap processed metals created during product manufacturing, including excess, obsolete, defective, and scrap metal materials which contain refined or processed metals that are appropriate for recycling in the production of tin, tantalum, tungsten or gold”;
Stocks which were created on a verifiable date prior to 1 February 2013.
Indirectly, the Regulation concerns smelters and refiners of the covered materials, whether they are based inside the EU or not: EU importers will be indeed required to avoid dealing with smelters and refiners whose due diligence practices are insufficient or associated with risks. The EU Commission is expected to establish and keep updated a “list of global responsible smelters and refiners” that are deemed to fulfil the requirements of the Regulation.
2. Conflict-Affected and High-Risks Areas
The Regulation targets minerals and metals originating from conflict-affected or high risk areas, without being limited to specific geographical locations. The areas considered to be conflict-affected or high-risk are:
areas in a state of armed conflict;
fragile post-conflict areas;
areas witnessing weak or non-existing governance and security, such as failed states;
in all cases, areas with widespread and systematic violations of international law, including human rights abuses.
The EU Commission is expected to call upon external expertise that will provide an indicative, non-exhaustive, regularly updated list of conflict-affected and high-risk areas.
While no definitive list has been published yet, EU importers are encouraged to make this assessment themselves based on non-binding guidelines issued by the Commission for the identification of conflict-affected and high-risk areas.[5]
3. Due Diligence Obligations
The Regulation requires EU importers to carry out risk-based supply chain due diligence, defined as an ongoing process through which economic operators monitor and administer their trades with a view to ensuring that they do not contribute to armed conflict or adverse human rights impacts.
In practice, EU importers have to comply with five main obligations provided by Articles 4, 5, 6 and 7, which explicitly recall the five-steps framework established by the above mentioned OECD Due Diligence Guidance. EU importers of the covered minerals and metals should:
Establish a strong management systemand clearly communicate to suppliers and the public their policy, which includes engaging with suppliers to integrate these standards in their supply contracts and develop a traceability system for imported minerals (Article 4);
Identify and assess actual or potential risks in the supply chain, as defined in Annex II of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance (Article 5 (1) (a));
Design and implement a strategy to respond to the identified risksin order to prevent or mitigate adverse humanitarian and human rights impacts (Article 5 (1) (b));
Carry out independent third-party auditof the company’s activities, processes and systems used to implement supply chain due diligence, in particular regarding the due diligence practices of smelters and refiners (Article 6);
Publicly report on supply chain due diligence policies and practices, both to member state authorities and also publicly, and they are obliged to make related information available to their customers (Article 7).
4. Implementation
According to Article 10, the enforcement of the Regulation will be up to the EU member states, which are expected to designate one or more competent authorities responsible for the application of the Regulation. Competent authorities will carry out appropriate ex-post checks of how EU importers comply with the regulation, which includes audits of records as well as on-the-spot inspections (Article 11). In any case, it is worth recalling that the Regulation will enter into force on 1 January 2021.
https://www.lcta.ch/site/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/EU-flag-scaled.jpg17072560lcta_webmasterhttps://www.lcta.ch/site/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/LCTA-Logo-10y-r02-01.pnglcta_webmaster2020-12-14 08:48:002020-12-17 13:19:42The EU Conflict Minerals Regulation – Due diligence requirements for EU importers
L’iniziativa in votazione il prossimo 29 novembre ed esposta come “multinazionali responsabili”, si chiama in realtà per “imprese responsabili”. Differenza da non sottovalutare e che deve fare riflettere a fondo, perché significa che le regole supplementari non sarebbero imponibili solo ad alcuni giganti, frequentemente considerati come “poco simpatici”, bensì a tutte le aziende svizzere attive direttamente o indirettamente in ambito internazionale. Piccole e medie imprese comprese.
I dati parlano chiaro: sono almeno 80’000 le aziende svizzere che esercitano attività potenzialmente coinvolte a livello internazionale, di cui 5’364 solo in Ticino. Dati evidenziati dal Consiglio federale e non contestati. Sarebbe quindi una percentuale importante dell’economia svizzera e ticinese a doversi confrontare con l’applicazione dell’irrazionale supplemento di regole previste dall’iniziativa. Ad esempio, citiamo la presunzione di colpevolezza. Le violazioni non dovrebbero più essere comprovate da chi le invoca, bensì vi sarebbe l’obbligo per le imprese chiamate in causa di dimostrare la propria innocenza, a fronte anche solo di pure illazioni. Supposizioni che comporterebbero danni reputazionali di entità incalcolabile e a prescindere dall’esito delle procedure. Danni basati su semplici accuse e, per la stragrande maggioranza dei casi, mai realmente concretizzabili davanti alle istanze giudiziarie. Nessuno, il mondo economico del nostro Paese in primis, intende spalleggiare chi non rispetta i diritti umani o l’ambiente, atteggiamento indifendibile. Ma proprio l’eccellente reputazione internazionale delle aziende svizzere (o anche semplicemente con sede in Svizzera) ha ampiamente dimostrato che questa sensibilità è già molto sentita oggi e presa a carico. Tutti coloro che tradiscono questa serietà umana e aziendale è giusto che scontino i propri sbagli e rispondano secondo le regole vigenti della nazione ospitante, come già succede attualmente. Non necessitiamo di altre regole.
Chi opera in ambito internazionale è attualmente, e già da tempo, confrontato con tutta una serie di norme complesse e decisamente severe, sia per le proprie attività sul piano nazionale che internazionale. Un esempio: il settore delle raffinerie d’oro, molto presente in Ticino, spesso criticato e accusato arbitrariamente, è un settore che deve sottostare a decine di regole molto ferree e considerate all’avanguardia sia sul tema della sostenibilità ambientale che sociale. Se, come prevede il testo dell’iniziativa in votazione, le aziende svizzere dovessero essere dichiarate responsabili della condotta non solo delle imprese da loro direttamente dipendenti e controllate, ma anche di quelle accostate a qualsiasi relazione d’affari, ben si capisce come questo vincolo renderebbe di fatto impossibile la maggior parte delle collaborazioni, in quanto controlli di questo genere sono assolutamente inattuabili.
Un altro esempio: pensiamo che un IPhone conta ca. 10’000 componenti e 40 materie prime, con fornitori per ogni categoria che possono variare a seconda dei mercati e quindi, spesso, addirittura quotidianamente. Le stesse caratteristiche valgono anche per molti prodotti industriali prettamente elvetici. A loro volta i fornitori fanno capo a catene proprie, anche quelle spesso site nell’area internazionale. L’immensa difficoltà della ricerca di continui riscontri nella fitta rete di contatti di lavoro dimostra che l’applicazione dell’iniziativa sarebbe solo un ulteriore ostacolo esasperato per le aziende 2 svizzere (e oltretutto solo per le nostre realtà), non risolvendo o alleviando comunque le eventuali problematiche legate alla protezione dei diritti umani e dell’ambiente.
Il controprogetto del Parlamento, che entrerebbe in vigore in caso di rigetto dell’iniziativa, costituisce di fatto, una sufficiente supplementare base legale restrittiva, che pone la Svizzera eticamente all’avanguardia nel contesto mondiale.
https://www.lcta.ch/site/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/ART20-Luca-Albertoni-2020.jpg8531280lcta_webmasterhttps://www.lcta.ch/site/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/LCTA-Logo-10y-r02-01.pnglcta_webmaster2020-11-17 10:00:542020-12-04 10:01:11Imprese responsabili “Un’iniziativa che soffoca le iniziative”
The popular vote on the Responsible Business Initiative will take place on November 29, 2020.
Here below you will find the video by STSA, in cooperation with LCTA and ZCA. The video is now available on public transport around Switzerland. Watch it and help us by sharing it on social media, with your employees and contacts.
In Italian
In German
In French
Florence Schurch Secretary general of STSA, is at your disposal to answer your questions: +41 22 715 29 90 / florence.schurch@stsaswiss.ch
https://www.lcta.ch/site/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Art-Video-RBI-luis-morera-THwpeN-QRVs-unsplash.jpg11201680lcta_webmasterhttps://www.lcta.ch/site/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/LCTA-Logo-10y-r02-01.pnglcta_webmaster2020-11-04 10:00:352020-12-04 10:09:04STSA Video on the Responsible Business Initiative
The popular vote on the Responsible Business Initiative will take place on November 29, 2020 and the campaign will start this summer. On that date, the Swiss people will be able to vote for or against the initiative. If the population accepts the initiative, it would still have to be implemented on a statutory level. If the initiative does not reach the majority of votes, the indirect counter-proposal will be adopted (subject to a referendum). The reporting and due diligence obligations would then need to be observed for the first time in the financial year commencing one year after the entry into effect.
KKS counter1. Key elements of the Initiative-proposal
The RBI seeks to introduce a new article 101a to the Federal Constitution. This article proposes the following key requirements for companies with registered office, central administration or principal place of business in Switzerland (Swiss companies) : – Respect all internationally recognized human rights and international environmental standards in Switzerland and abroad and ensure that companies under their (actual) control do the same. – Conduct appropriate due diligence with respect to risks to human rights and the environment by identifying actual and potential impacts, take measures to prevent and cease existing violations, and report on such measures. These obligations extend to controlled companies (subsidiaries and suppliers). – Accept liability for damage caused by companies under their control by violation of internationally recognized human rights and international environmental standards in the course of business, unless they prove to have complied with their due diligence obligations (reversal of the burden of proof).
The Swiss Parliament supports the main goal of the initiative that is the respect for human rights and the environmental through business, but concluded that the initiative went too far and would significantly weaken the attractiveness for Switzerland as a business hub. Instead, it supports the indirect counter-proposal.
2. Key elements of the indirect counter-proposal
Non-financial reporting duties
A new proposed provision in article 964bis ff. of the Swiss Code of Obligations would require public companies, banks, insurance companies and other supervised companies in the financial sector, which together with controlled companies in Switzerland and abroad (the Group) : (i) have at least 500 full-time employees on annual average, and (ii) exceed either total assets of CHF 20 million or revenues of CHF 40 million, to report annually on non-financial matters in a separate report. These provisions are in line with the Non-Financial Reporting Directive of the EU.
The report must contain information necessary to understand the Group’s business development, performance, position and impact of its activity on environmental (incl. CO2 targets), social, employee, human rights and anti-corruption topics. The report has to include but is not limited to a description of : (i) the business model, (ii) policies pursued and due diligence carried out, (iii) main risks resulting from the Group’s own operations and, where relevant and proportionate, from its business relationships, products or services, (iv) measures taken and assessed, and (v) the main non-financial key performance indicators.
The report may be based on national, European or international reporting standards, such as the OECD guidelines for multinational enterprises or the standards of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) among others. A reporting company may choose not to report on topics with respect to which the Group does not pursue policies. This would, however, require the report to provide a clear and reasoned explanation. Furthermore, the report is subject to approval by the board of directors and by the general meeting of shareholders but it does not need to be audited.
Due diligence obligations in connection with conflict minerals and child labor
Swiss Companies that (i) import or process minerals or metals containing tin, tantalum, tungsten or gold from conflict or high-risk areas, or (ii) offer products or services where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that child labor was involved, are subject to special due diligence and related reporting obligations with respect to their supply chain. The Federal Council may define certain exceptions. Companies would be required to implement a management system with a defined supply chain policy and a system to trace back the supply chain, identify and assess actual and potential risks of adverse impacts in their supply chain, implement a risk management plan with measures to prevent or mitigate such risks, and issue an annual report on the compliance with these obligations. Additionally, companies importing or processing minerals or metals must appoint an independent third party to carry out audits on the compliance with the abovementioned obligations.
As far as criminal liability is concerned, the proposed provisions foresee that anyone who makes false statements in, or fails to provide, a required non-financial report will be fined with up to CHF 100’000.
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