Third-Party Expertise is Key for Successful Audits

Q: What unique added value does TÜV NORD provide to the Mexican mining industry compared to other certification and inspection firms?
A: Our role as a service provider is to ensure that a certification is valid, which allows a company to prove to other interested parties that it is complying with applicable standards. ISO standards are not mandatory, but they are an effective way for a company to show that it is doing the right thing by focusing on quality, the environment, and occupational health & safety during the different stages of its mining projects.

We are an international company, so the certifications we provide are valid internationally, not only because they are based on widely recognized ISO standards, but also because our brand stands for trust, having been in the market for over 150 years. Our history is our main added value, and the confidence in our brand is one of our key assets. In the Mexican market, we have a local presence for over a decade and are focusing our growth strategy on the mining industry. We already have clients in this market segment, we have competent auditors and the back-office support that our customers need.

Q: How does TÜV NORD support companies in aligning with international sustainability standards?
A: Some of the most interesting ISO standards are ISO 14001 for environmental management systems and ISO 45001 for occupational health and safety. These two standards, which are the most relevant for the mining industry, are based on the concept of risk management. Each organization willing to implement and certify these management systems needs to address risks and implement controls to ensure that these risks do not materialize.

We do not establish the methodology; each organization does. We assess if the risk management methodology that the organization has implemented, is adequate for the environmental aspects and occupational hazards, respectively; and if the controls the organization has established are sufficient to reduce those risks. 

Besides, we assess identification and compliance with related local regulations. 

We ensure that those who perform the audits know what they are doing, that they know the industry, and that they have worked either directly or indirectly in a mining project in the past.

Q: How has Mexico’s new mining law reshaped the priorities and responsibilities of mining companies?
A: The 2023 reform establishes new rules for the mining industry. It also addresses the concerns of society and the protection of the environment. This creates a challenging  environment in which mining companies must operate, but it also has positive aspects that need to be complied with to ensure a more sustainable future, which is directly linked to ESG.

Although there is not one specific standard that can address all ESG concerns, there are different standards that we audit and certify that can help a company show commitment with these expectations. This reform establishes new minimums that companies must meet. For example, the life cycle of a project and the restoration after mining operations are addressed in ISO 14001. This standard can give a mining operator the tools it needs to establish a systemic approach and ensure that it is in compliance with the new decree.

Q: What challenges are mining companies encountering in adapting to the new regulations, particularly in environmental compliance and permitting processes?

A: There have been some delays in processing licenses, as presented in the last Mexico Mining Forum organized by Mexico Business recently. The most challenging change is that, in the past, a lack of an answer from regulators meant a positive response, but now a lack of an answer must be legally interpreted as a lack of permission.

When it comes to ESG, there could be new regulations. However, in other countries, we have seen that over-regulation does not promote the development of the industry. There must be a right balance to promote the industry while ensuring a healthy environment for society and the future.
 

Q: What is TÜV NORD's vision for the future of the mining industry in Mexico, and how does your firm plan to address its evolving needs?

A: We see large potential for mining companies and their supply chains to adopt ISO standards. There is not a reluctance to do so, but rather a lack of knowledge of the benefits these certifications can bring. This lack of knowledge has led to a lag in adoption, at least compared to other countries. These internationally recognized management tools can mitigate operational risks in quality, environment, and organizational health & safety, to mention a few. With newer technologies like AI, there is also a new challenge to protect information, for which there are other ISO standards available like ISO 27001 for Information Security Management Systems.

All of these management tools will be helpful for the mining industry. We will be there to partner with companies and their supply chains to make their lives easier and to offer them a third-party assessment adding value to their operations. In the past, the main focus was to produce without taking too much care of stakeholders other than the customer. But now other stakeholders must be considered in a company's strategic planning. Companies should ensure they are following the needs and expectations of all stakeholders to be able to comply with them and ensure they have a sustainable strategic plan. Management tools exist to make life easier. They ensure they are not reinventing the wheel with every strategic plan, but rather have a set of management tools and risk management methodologies that will help them grow faster tackling constraints, while taking care of the expectations of their stakeholders.

TÜV NORD México provides certification, inspection, testing, and consulting services to ensure safety, quality, and sustainability across industries. In mining, it helps companies comply with regulations, strengthen ESG performance, and build stakeholder trust through internationally recognized standards.