As reported by several sources, at a budget hearing before the US House Committee on Appropriations on March 6, 2012, SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro indicated that the SEC's final rules on conflict minerals will not be adopted until the middle of 2012. This is contrary to recent expectations that the SEC was on the verge of releasing these rules, which are required under Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Act.

For more information on Section 1502 and the SEC's proposed conflict minerals rules, see Practice Note, Conflict Minerals Due Diligence and Conflict Minerals Disclosure Requirements Checklist.