CAHRA (Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Area)

A Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Area (CAHRA) is a region characterized by armed conflict, widespread violence, weak governance, or systematic violations of international law, in which the extraction and trade of minerals may contribute to or be linked to these conditions. The OECD Due Diligence Guidance defines CAHRAs as the geographic areas where due diligence obligations are most critical. The EU Commission maintains an indicative, non-exhaustive list of CAHRAs under Regulation (EU) 2017/821, most recently updated through procurement under EC-TRADE/2025/OP/0006.

OECD Due Diligence Guidance, Third Edition (2016), Annex II; Regulation (EU) 2017/821, Article 2(e); EU CAHRA List (maintained by European Commission DG TRADE).

CAHRA identification is the starting point for conflict minerals risk assessment. EU importers must assess whether their minerals originate from or pass through CAHRAs. The EU Commission’s CAHRA list provides guidance but is not exhaustive — importers must use their own judgment based on available information. Under the U.S. Dodd-Frank framework, the ‘covered countries’ (DRC and adjoining countries) effectively function as a defined CAHRA zone for SEC reporting purposes.

A European tantalum importer reviews the EU Commission’s CAHRA list and identifies that one of its supplier’s mining regions in eastern DRC falls within a listed area. The importer must apply the full OECD five-step due diligence process for that portion of its supply chain.