Chapter 12 - The International Cyanide Management Code: Ensuring Best Practice in the Gold Industry

Abstract

This chapter discusses the International Cyanide Management Code (Cyanide Code or Code), a voluntary program of best practice for companies that use cyanide to produce gold and for the manufacturers and transporters of this cyanide. The chapter describes the multistakeholder process used to develop the program and provides an overview of its requirements, including how operations are certified in compliance through independent, third-party audits and the transparent posting of audit results on the internet for public review. The program's evolution over the past decade and its broad support by the industry and other stakeholders are also discussed, along with the benefits and costs of Code implementation. Challenges to the program's continued success are identified.