Going from the article you've quoted it will effect imported goods too - the importer will have to ensure that none of the materials in the goods are sourced from the the Congo.
The same is true with RoHS, the products may be made in China but the company importing them has to make sure they comply.
i haven't read all 2300 pages yet
, but according to the article, this looks like it may only apply SEC traded manufacturers. i don't know if it applies to the smaller manufacturers or importers of finished or unfinished goods...
This is also a big problem:
The importers will just have to take the Chinese company's word for it, that none of their products contain materials from the Congo.
Another thing is this all breaks down when people start buying from Chinese suppliers on ebay but that isn't normally the case with most goods.
yup. i guess some sort of certifying authority oversight group will be created to verify compliance and sign-off on some "certified" vendors list. ie:
Fair Tradehe said, she said probably won't be enough effort to C.Y.A. if the SEC decides to raid your congo logs.
i'm all for companies doing what they can to ensure their products don't support raping babies in the congo or whatever, but this should be a ethical decision made the company themselves. not a earmark buried in a 2300pg economic reform bill that ultimately becomes a Federal LAW!
heres how i suspect this went down... someone named ___________ whom has a special place in their heart for the poor people suffering in the congo (or a vested interest in regulating these materials) donates handjobs/money/whatever to congressman ________________. congressman ___________ likes handjobs/campaign money/etc. and doesn't want to cut off the funding/handjobs/etc provided by ______________, so congressman __________________ pushes for his special interest earmark to be added to the financial reform bill or else he won't vote for it. multiply this times 430 something congressmen, each with own "special interest" agenda, and you have the 2300pg "Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act".
Congratulations America! You're now on your way to economic recovery and you can rest easy knowing that your cellphone wasn't built by raped babies in the congo.
-sj