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Registration, Evaluation, Authorization of Chemicals (REACh) legislation of European Union:

• ICC has been interacting with experts from overseas, senior bureaucrats of Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers and Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India on progress on REACh. Members of the Executive Committee were also given update on REACh from time to time.
• Meeting with Dr. Wolfgang M. Doerner of Synazo Consulting, Germany was organized on 21 August 2008 in the ICC - Mumbai office. Presentation was made to the members about activities of Synazo on REACh Policy.
• Meeting was organized with CHEMEXCIL on 11 July 2008 at Mumbai to understand the current status of the REACh compliance procedure. The meeting was attended by Mr. Reynold D'Souza, Chairman, REACh and Global Harmonized Systems Expert Committee, ICC. During the meeting it was informed that 50 Substances have already been pre-registered by Chemexcil and 200 substances are in the pipeline. REACh support - an organization based in Nagpur - is offering services to Chemexcil concerning pre-registration and is charging Euros 80 per substance upload. Chemexcil had become a member of Helsinki REACH Centre. It was also informed that registration charges will be offset by CHEMEXCIL through the Ministry of Commerce.
• Two meetings were arranged with the officials of Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers in Mumbai on 29 August 2008 and 10 September 2008. The main purpose of the meetings was to discuss progress regarding REACh compliance and Non-Agriculture Market Access (NAMA) Proposal. Industry's views regarding REACh compliance and NAMA proposal were communicated.
• Seminar on REACh was organized on 16 September 2008 by Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India on behalf of India-EU Environment Forum. It was participated by members of REACh and Global Harmonized Systems Expert Committee of ICC.

INTERNATIONAL TREATIES:

• Mr. S. Ganesan, Chairman, International Treaties Expert Committee regularly attended the meetings of Stockholm Convention as an Observer representing Indian chemical industry and has earned wide recognition over years for voicing common concerns of chemical industries in developing world.
• ICC in cooperation with DCPC, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers and National Authority - Chemical Weapons Convention, Government of India has been arranging awareness programs on Chemical Weapons Convention. During the year, ICC organized 13 awareness programs as per details given below : 9 August 2008 : Mangalore 23 August 2008 : Lote Parshuram 27 September 2008 : Bengaluru 11 October 2008 : Kochi 18 October 2008 : Kota 29 November 2008 : Kurkumbh, Pune 13 December 2008 : Vapi 20 December 2008 : Baddi (HP) 27 December 2008 : Chennai 10 January 2009 : Goa 27 February 2009 : Kolkata 5 March 2009 : Delhi 28 March 2009 : Hyderabad
  
• Mrs. Sandra R. Shroff, Vice Chairman, UNITED PHOSPHORUS LTD and Mr. Prashant Yajnik attended Second Review Conference meetings held at Hague from 17 - 18 April 2008 on behalf of ICC.
• DCPC, Government of India have desired ICC to compile a book consolidating all the rules and regulations of CWC by OPCW and the said work is under progress. Members are aware that a Help Desk has been set up in ICC Baroda Chapter for CWC at the behest of DCPC, Government of India. Members are requested to make best use of the Help Desk for complying with the requirements of CWC.
• DCPC, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India have also extended support to ICC for setting up Help Desk at Chennai. ICC has also requested Government helps for setting up Help Desk at Hyderabad, Kolkata, New Delhi and also Mumbai
• Mr. D. P. Misra and Mrs. Sandra Shroff at the invitation of OPCW Secretariat participated in the Tenth Annual Meeting of National Authorities held on 28 - 30 November 2008 at Hague, The Netherlands. Presentation was made on "Implementing the Convention - A Perspective from the Chemical Industry" by Mr. Misra.

RESPONSIBLE CARE:

• As on today 100 members have committed for Responsible Care Inititative.
• ICC has granted permission to use RC logo to following member-companies who have met with stringent requirement of RC Initiative: Aegis Logistics Ltd. Bihar Caustic and Chemicals Ltd Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd Rohm and Haas (India) Pvt. Ltd. SI Group India Ltd. SRF Limited Supreme Petrochem Ltd Tata Chemicals Ltd Thirumalai Chemicals Ltd. United Phosphorus Ltd.
• Steering Committee consisting of representatives of logo holders has been formed to carry forward RC initiative.
• Awareness programs on "Responsible Care" was organized in New Delhi on 5 September 2008.
• ICC has received request from Gulf Petrochemical Council for sending expert on "Responsible Care" for training manufacturing companies there and request of Gulf Petrochemical Council has been examined and first response showing interest of ICC has been send to Gulf Petrochemical Council.

TECHNOLOGY & ENERGY:

The Committee was chaired by Mr. S. R. Lohokare, Managing Director, National Peroxide Ltd.

Under the auspices of this Committee following programs were organized :

• Seminar on "Maintenance of Chemical Plants in Different Sectors" was organized on 27 - 28 June 2008 at Mumbai. The seminar focused on important aspect of maintenance such as maintenance of philosophy, maintenance of cost, reliability through reduced pipe stress, safety during maintenance, turn around maintenance, etc.
• Two-day Seminar on "Driving Excellence in Innovation in the Chemical & Process Industries" was organized on 28-29 November 2008 in Mumbai. Due to terrorist attacks in Mumbai on 26 November only few registered delegates could attend this program. Mr. David Brown, Chief Executive, Institute of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) UK conducted the Seminar.
• ICC organized one-day Refresher Course on "Process Intensification" on 7 March 2009 at Mumbai. Prof. V. V. Mahajani, Professor of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT) was the Co-ordinator for this course. Mr. Gajanan K. Sadekar, Head - Product & Technology Development Centre, LARSEN & TOUBRO LTD delivered a Key-Note Address. Certificates of Participation were presented to delegates at the end of the Course. In the present circumstances, where improving efficiency, cost cutting and innovation is essential for survival, Process Intensification may provide solution in some cases. Hence this refresher course will be organized in other zone as well.
• ICC in cooperation with Forbes Marshall Ltd organized 4 programs on "Energy Conservation for Chemical Industry" details of which are given below : Chennai : 20 June 2008 Hyderabad : 6 August 2008 Bengaluru : 5 December 2008 Kurkumbh, Pune : 24 February 2009

SAFETY, HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT:

• The Committee was chaired by Mr. S. K. Hazra, Managing Director, Aegis Logistics Ltd. Mr. Hazra has been empanelled by Canadian State Agency as Expert Panel Member for assessing projects related to clean energy sustainable hydrocarbon development etc. On invitation from the State Agency, Mr. Hazra attended the first Panel meeting at Ottawa between 15 to 17 September 2008.
• Since there is delay involved in getting cooperation from Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS), USA and IChemE, UK, ICC has decided to set up Centre for Process Safety on its own. Safety, Health & Environment Expert Committee of ICC is finalizing details for starting the centre.
• The recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai (on 26 November 2008) brought out very strong need to have review of all security practices followed in the industry and more so in chemical industry. Also ICC is seriously considering to include Security Code in Responsible Care program. The industry is lacking exposure as to what proper security means and what pro-active steps that are required to be taken and improve the security at manufacturing sites. Measures that will be undertaken by the chemical industry in this behalf will also supplement the efforts undertaken by different Government agencies. In this context, ICC organized a seminar on "Chemical Industry - Addressing Security Threats" on 6 February 2009 at Mumbai. Ms Orna Sagiv, Consul General of Israel in Mumbai inaugurated the seminar. Mr. Suresh S. Bheema, General Manager - South Pacific Region, ABS Consulting Inc. delivered Key-Note Address. Mr. Asaf Ashkenazi, Head of Sharvit Division, Rotem Industries Ltd, Israel participated in the seminar and shared best practices followed in Israel. The other learned speakers were Mr. S. K. Hazra, Chairman - Safety, Health & Environment Expert Committee, ICC; Mr. Deep Mathur, Country Manager - TRUSCOT CRISIS LEADER; Dr. M. V. Rege, Member - Safety, Health & Environment Expert Committee, ICC & Occupational Health Specialist - Lubrizol India Pvt Ltd and Mr. V. G. Bukkawar, Advisor - SHE, ICC and made excellent presentations.
• David Moore, President and CEO, AcuTech Consulting Group, US was to participate and address at the Seminar on "Chemical Industry - Addressing Security Threats" held on 6 February 2009 at Mumbai. Because of non availability of Visa, Mr. Moore with could not come to Mumbai at that time. As per his desire the meeting of Mr. Moore with ICC members was organized on 9 March 2009 at ICC Mumbai Office. The presentation made at the meeting of the SHE Expert Committee was appreciated by the members present.
• ICC's comments / observations on the Draft Notification under S. O. No. 1070 (E) which is named 'Coastal Management Zone Notification 2008' were submitted to Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India for consideration.

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