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Excluded sectors & activities
SME Planet and its affiliates do not get involved in any of the sectors or activities listed below:
- Corporate scale international extraction of precious metals and other geological materials (but we can work with national SMEs engaged in mining, value addition in-country and providing services to companies engaged in such activities);
- The production of, or trade in:
- hazardous chemicals, pharmaceuticals, pesticides and wastes, as specified in the 2004 Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants; the 2004 Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade; the 1992 Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal and WHO Recommended Classification of Pesticides by Hazard Class 1a (extremely hazardous); or 1b (highly hazardous);
- ozone depleting substances, as specified in the 1999 Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer;
- endangered or protected plants, wildlife or wildlife products, as specified in the 1975 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species or Wild Flora and Fauna;
- the commercial extraction of timber, peat or soil from ancient forests, carbon sinks or designated protected areas, sctivities leading to the destruction of protected wetlands and historic structures;
- narcotics as listed in the US DEA Prohibied Narcotics list of Setember 2024 (dea.gov), unless in connection with regulated, legal drug research and development or medical use within the jurisdiction of a country.
- other noxious substances as listed in the EU Controlled substances Act 2021, Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 on persistent organic pollutants of June 25, 2019, the updated Regulation (EU) of 2019/1021 on Persistent Organic Pollutants. Controlled substances include pesticides, flame retardants, perfluorinated compounds, and other organic substances accumulate in the environment and living organisms that pose threats to the environment and human health;
- any other product or activity deemed illegal under applicable local or national laws or regulations or subject to internationally agreed phase-outs or bans as defined in global conventions and agreements;
- arms (i.e. weapons, munitions or nuclear products, primarily designated for military purposes); or
- radioactive materials (excluding medical equipment, quality control (measurement) equipment, civilian power generation and any equipment in which the radioactive source could reasonably be considered to be trivial or adequately shielded);
- The production of, use of, or trade in unbonded asbestos fibres;
- Unsustainable fishing methods such as blast fishing and drift net fishing in the marine environment using nets in excess of 2.5 kilometres in length;
- Prostitution, exploitation of human beings; and
- Any of the following, to the extent that the activities represent more than 10% of the Group’s underlying portfolio volumes:
- gambling, gaming casinos and equivalent enterprises;
- tobacco or tobacco related products (except where the Group proposes to cease such activities completely within a period agreed with BII); or
- pornography or media designed to insight social discord.
- Products and services primarily designed for national security and intelligence services (e.g., NSO Group) or where there is a reasonable risk of human rights abuses;
- Prisons and detention centres, unless related to rehabilitation activities;
- Any healthcare facility dedicated to high end cosmetic procedures and/or surgeries;