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CHEMICAL SAFETY

ICC recognised for work in advancing compliance

to Chemical Weapons Convention objectives

The Indian Chemical Council
(ICC), the trade association represent-
ing the chemical and petrochemical in-
dustry in India, has been honoured with
the ‘2024 OPCW-The Hague Award’ in
recognition of its contribution towards
achieving a world free of chemical
weapons.

The ICC was named as a co-reci
pient alongside the National Institute of
Criminalistics and Criminology of the
National Gendarmerie (NICC/NG) of
Algeria.

The 2024 OPCW-The Hague
Award, which acknowledges signifi-
cant efforts to support the objectives
of the Chemical Weapons Convention Mr. D Sothi Selvam, Director General, ICC (middle) receives the ‘2024 OPCW-The Hague Award’
(CWC), was announced by the Organi- from Ambassado Fernando Arias, the Director General of OPCW (left) and Mr Jan van Zanen, the
sation for the Prohibition of Chemical Mayor of The Hague.
Weapons (OPCW). The awards were Security Code of RC. “ICC’s focus on CWC, the OPCW, with its 193 mem-
presented on November 25, during the enhancing industry security and ad- ber states, oversees the global endeav-
29th session of the Conference of the vancing national implementation of our to permanently eliminate chemical
States Parties to the Chemical Weapons the convention in one of the world’s weapons. Since the convention’s entry
Convention, held at the World Forum in largest chemical sectors, demonstrates into force in 1997, it is the most suc-
The Hague. an outstanding commitment to responsible cessful disarmament treaty eliminating
industrial stewardship, and the aims an entire class of weapons of mass de-
This award acknowledges the role of the CWC in this regard. This is the struction. In 2023, the OPCW verified
played by ICC in promoting chemical first time that the award recognises the that all chemical weapons stockpiles
safety, compliance with the convention, efforts of a chemical industry body,” declared by the 193 States Parties to
and enhancing industry-wide security the association said in a press note. the CWC since 1997 – totalling 72,304
practices in India. Through initiatives metric tonnes of chemical agents – have
like the CWC Helpdesks, ICC has in- In acceptance of the honour, Direc- been irreversibly destroyed under the
creased industry compliance and fa- tor General of ICC, Mr. D. Sothi Selvam OPCW’s strict verification regime.
cilitated efficient e-filing for chemical said, “This honour not only recognizes For its extensive efforts in eliminating
declarations. Additionally, ICC’s ‘Nicer the efforts of ICC but also underscores chemical weapons, the OPCW received
Globe’ initiative has had a substantial the importance of the National Au- the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize. To pre-
impact on chemical transportation safety thority Chemical Weapons Conven- serve the legacy of this achievement,
in India, offering real-time monitoring tion (NACWC) and the Department the OPCW established the ‘OPCW-The
and emergency response capabilities. of Chemicals & Petrochemicals of the Hague Award’ in collaboration with the
ICC has conducted other activities to Government of India for their unwaver- Municipality of The Hague in 2014.
promote chemical safety and security ing support and guidance.” The award recognises individuals and
through its ‘Responsible Care’ (RC) organisations that play a significant role
programme and the introduction of the As the implementing body for the in advancing the goals of the CWC.

Chemical Weekly December 3, 2024 153

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