The London Bullion Market Association’s Responsible Gold Guidance scheme is under formal review for recognition as a supply chain due diligence standard. The assessment reflects growing regulatory and market pressure on the gold industry to demonstrate traceable, ethical sourcing.
The London Bullion Market Association (LBMA), the body that sets global standards for the professional gold and silver market, has submitted its Responsible Gold Guidance (RGG) framework to a formal recognition assessment. The review evaluates whether the scheme meets established benchmarks for supply chain due diligence — the process by which companies verify that the metals they trade are not linked to conflict, human rights abuses, or money laundering.
Supply chain due diligence has become a central compliance issue for the precious metals industry over the past decade. International frameworks, including guidelines from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), have pushed refiners, dealers, and exchanges to document where their metal originates and how it moves through the supply chain. The LBMA’s Good Delivery List — the industry’s standard for acceptable gold bars — already requires accredited refiners to adhere to the RGG, making the scheme’s credibility a foundational element of the global gold market.
A successful recognition outcome would signal that the RGG aligns with internationally accepted due diligence standards, which matters for institutional buyers, central banks, and exchange-traded fund custodians who face their own sourcing mandates. It could also influence how gold is treated under evolving import regulations in the European Union and other major markets increasingly scrutinizing commodity supply chains.
For investors, the practical effect of a credible, recognized due diligence scheme is subtle but meaningful. Gold that can be demonstrably traced through a compliant supply chain faces fewer regulatory obstacles, which supports liquidity and pricing integrity in the market. Conversely, schemes that fail to meet formal standards risk exclusion from major trading venues and institutional portfolios.
The LBMA oversees the London gold market, one of the world’s largest centers for physical gold trading, and its Responsible Gold Guidance has been a cornerstone of responsible sourcing efforts since its introduction. The outcome of this assessment will be watched closely by refiners and market participants who depend on LBMA accreditation.
Watch for the formal assessment result, which could set a precedent for how other precious metals due diligence schemes are evaluated globally.
