February 05, 2026

International Bullion Centre Recommendation Number 5: ASM Guidance and Legitimate Supply

Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM) supports millions of livelihoods around the world, yet ASM counterparts are often highly exposed to serious social, environmental and human rights risks, especially where regulatory oversight is weak. 

 

To support safer, more legitimate ASM supply chains, LBMA’s fifth recommendation calls for International Bullion Centres (IBCs) to: 

  • Work with governments, industry and civil society to legalise and assess ASM sites. 

  • Support programmes that enable responsibly produced ASM bullion to enter formal markets, including through traceability or chain-of-custody systems. 

 

Creating clear, credible pathways for ASM gold helps protect vulnerable miners, reduces illicit flows, and strengthens global supply chain integrity. 

Find out more about LBMA’s ASM initiative

Read more about LBMA's International Bullion Centre Recommendations