NewsBrief
Issue No.55 December 2006		TM

2006 AD will be remembered for many reasons, not least for the emergence of the Sustainability and Climate Change debate. Together with the introduction of major chemical management regulations affecting global and domestic chemical suppliers, three developments will further reinforce and enhance the “Think global, Act local” approach of our highly regarded and increasingly voluntary Responsible Care ® initiative.

Internationally, the protracted revamp of Responsible Care ® culminated in the launch of the Global Charter, a highlight of the 2006 Conference of the UN Environment Programme's Strategic Approach for International Chemical Management (SAICM) in Dubai.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan praised Responsible Care ® as a unique example of a successful voluntary international industry initiative which is making a valuable contribution to Sustainable Development while improving chemical management.

Global chief executives of leading chemical suppliers are signing up to the new CEOs' Global Commitment to Responsible Care ® . This requires signatories to implement Responsible Care ® wherever their products are made and sold. One important outcome will be increased support for the 52 national chemical associations, comprising the International Council and Chemical Association (ICCA). The ICCA is committed to successfully implementing this renowned industry initiative which seeks to safeguard people and the environment from any harm arising from our activities and products.

A greatly improved ICCA Communications capability will focus on enabling national associations to upgrade and improve their ability to advocate the benefits of chemicals through international and local Responsible Care ® initiatives such as regulatory compliance programmes and Product Stewardship.

New chemical control regulations, particularly the mandatory European Union's Registration, Evaluation, and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH) legislation (commencing 01 June 2007) and the UNEP's voluntary Globally Harmonised System of Classifying and Labelling Chemicals (GHS) (already underway) will challenge governments, regulators, national associations, chemical suppliers, and their customers alike in the next few years.