Chemical Manufacturers Enhance Commitment to Chemical Product Safety with New Responsible Care® Code

WASHINGTON, May 6, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Chemistry Council (ACC) and its members today launched a new Responsible Care Product Safety Code. Based on existing industry best practices, the Product Safety Code goes above and beyond regulatory requirements to manage the safety of chemicals in products that consumers rely on every day.

The announcement comes as ACC marks the 25th anniversary of Responsible Care, an industry environmental, health, safety and security performance initiative focused on the safe, responsible, sustainable management of chemicals. Participation in Responsible Care is a condition of ACC membership.

"Making safe, innovative products has been and continues to be a core value for the chemical industry," said ACC President and CEO Cal Dooley. "The Product Safety Code champions transparency, accountability and science-based product development and improvement, to give consumers added confidence in the safety of the products they use every day."

Under the Product Safety Code, each ACC member makes a public pledge to implement 11 industry best practices to evaluate and continuously improve their product safety performance. Adherence to these practices will be mandatory and regularly verified by independent auditors. The Product Safety Code requires companies to:

• Manage the safety of their products, from inception to use, reuse, recycling and disposal.
• Undertake scientific analyses of their products, with close consideration of how they are used by all consumers, especially children.
• Provide public access to product safety information.
• Share information along the supply chain so that products are used safety.
• Continuously evaluate new information that may have product safety implications.
• Take corrective measures if they discover improper practices involving a product.

"The public needs to know the products they rely on every day are safe. As we commemorate 25 years of Responsible Care, we renew our commitment to the safety and integrity of our products," said Sven Royall, Chair of the ACC Board Committee on Responsible Care and Vice President of Global Intermediates at Shell Chemicals. "Under the Product Safety Code, our industry takes an important next step in creating a comprehensive set of practices to which we will not only subscribe, but also confirm our adherence through third-party validation."

ACC has also developed a new Responsible Care Process Safety Code to expand and strengthen safe operations throughout the chemical manufacturing process. Companies identify and prioritize the hazards and risks of their processes and promote systems to manage, mitigate and share information about these risks. Implementation of this Code is also mandatory for ACC member companies.

The announcement was made at the 2013 Responsible Care Conference and Expo, where industry leaders from across the country are gathering to discuss the latest developments in product safety and the future of the chemical industry.

Through Responsible Care, ACC members are required to report environment, health, safety and security performance data annually. Data are posted on a public website, which allows the public to see individual company data and compare it to other companies.

For more information on the 25th anniversary of Responsible Care and the Product Safety Code, please visit: www.americanchemistry.com/rc.

http://www.americanchemistry.com

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) represents the leading companies engaged in the business of chemistry. ACC members apply the science of chemistry to make innovative products and services that make people's lives better, healthier and safer. ACC is committed to improved environmental, health and safety performance through Responsible Care®, common sense advocacy designed to address major public policy issues, and health and environmental research and product testing. The business of chemistry is a $760 billion enterprise and a key element of the nation's economy. It is the largest exporting sector in the U.S., accounting for 12 percent of U.S. exports. Chemistry companies are among the largest investors in research and development. Safety and security have always been primary concerns of ACC members, and they have intensified their efforts, working closely with government agencies to improve security and to defend against any threat to the nation's critical infrastructure.

SOURCE The American Chemistry Council