US public companies and certain foreign private issuers are now obliged to report the use of conflict minerals to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Does this apply to Epson?

No. Epson is not a foreign private issuer under Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act so it will not file an SD report on its use of conflict minerals with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

What is Epson doing to eliminate conflict minerals from its products?

Epson is committed to having a socially responsible supply chain and revised its procurement guidelines in the autumn of 2012 to prohibit the sourcing of conflict minerals in materials and components sold to Epson for incorporation into Epson products. Epson's procurement guidelines are posted at http://global.epson.com/SR/procurement/guideline/

What measures does Epson take to require its suppliers to eliminate conflict minerals from the Epson supply chain?

Epson's procurement guidelines require that its suppliers refrain from using conflict minerals. Epson surveys some of these suppliers each year to determine if they can certify the country of origin for gold, tantalum, tin, and tungsten. Thus far, Epson has surveyed its major quartz and semiconductor suppliers. Going forward, Epson plans to survey major suppliers of other products. It is Epson's goal to eliminate conflict minerals from Epson products.

Does Epson audit its suppliers?

Epson conducts reasonable country of origin inquiries by asking its suppliers to determine the source of gold, tantalum, tin, and tungsten used in materials and components sold to Epson. Epson conducts an evaluation of some of its suppliers each year to determine their adherence to Epson's procurement guidelines.

Do Epson products include conflict minerals?

Epson procures vast numbers of different materials and components from numerous different suppliers around the world. To date, Epson has not conducted supplier surveys of every vendor. However, after surveying some of its semiconductor and quartz products suppliers Epson can certify that it has yet to discover conflict minerals supplied by the companies surveyed to date.

Which suppliers have been surveyed so far?

Epson has surveyed its large semiconductor and quartz device suppliers and continues to work with its suppliers to determine the source of tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold in components and materials supplied to Epson

How many suppliers have been surveyed so far?

As of fiscal year 2012, Epson has surveyed several dozen suppliers of its semiconductor and quartz businesses.

When does Epson expect to conclude its surveys?

Epson conducts ongoing surveys of its suppliers as part of its regular business practices. Companies covered by the so-called "Dodd-Frank Act" must report on the status of such conflict minerals in their products to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although Epson is not obligated to report about its use of conflict minerals it is committed to having a socially responsible supply chain and is carrying out ongoing surveys.

What is Epson doing to audit its supply chain to verify that conflict minerals are not used in Epson products?

Epson contractually requires all of its suppliers to comply with its procurement guidelines. In autumn 2012, Epson revised these guidelines to require its suppliers to report the use of conflict minerals. Henceforth, Epson requires that suppliers report for all products sold to Epson the region of origin, the supply chain process and the method of survey used.

When does Epson expect it can certify that Epson products are conflict mineral-free?

Epson continues to survey its suppliers as part of its regular business practices. There is no conclusion date.