Page 180 - CW E-Magazine (17-10-2023)

Asian Chemicals Forum 2023

of the ‘Mutual Acceptance of Data ment of novel solutions that could tures of the chemicals management
(MAD)’ system, a multilateral agree- minimise the impacts of the chemicals. system. These include the building of
ment that allows participating countries The objectives of “Reduce,” “Reuse,” inventory that facilitates regulations
to share the results of various non- and “Recycle” need to be carried for- at the national level. Currently, there
clinical tests done on chemicals using ward in the ‘Agenda 2030’, for which are 14 key global inventories covering
OECD methods and principles. a supportive legal framework is nec- more than 65,000 substances. The key
essary to set the targets and guide the consideration before countries seeking
In his address, Mr. Rupark Sarswat, behaviour for achieving or even exceed- to bring new regulations is whether the
Chief Executive Offi cer, India Glycols ing them. Research and development in substances already included in inven-
Ltd., lamented that “regulation is usu- sustainable chemistry would continue tories elsewhere should be treated as
ally an after-thought” and urged the to be a driving factor in the achieve- “existing” or “new,” if it has not been
industry to look at the regulator as an ment of the 2030 targets, they said. placed in the country beforehand. Some
enabler for sustainable growth. The speakers also underlined how countries accept such substances as
the new UN Framework is starting to existing, thereby relieving the sub-
The forum was structured into four emphasise private sector involvement. mitter from generating fresh registra-
distinct sessions: tion data.
Panel 2: How to best tackle forever
CEO Round Table: Towards sustain- chemicals and endocrine disruptors? The other element is the harmo-
able chemicals portfolio in India Worldwide views in response to EU´s nised adoption of the UN-GHS classifi -
The current legislation in India, classifi cation proposals. cation system, at least for acute toxic
aimed at chemicals management, does The new classes of chemicals – categories 1, 2 and 3 by all nations.
not cover almost 85% of the substances endocrine disruptors (EDs) and PFAS The adoption by most G20 and other
of concern. The ‘CEO Roundtable’ (per- and polyfl uoroalkyl substances) – countries has demonstrated that such
examined India’s current legislative provi- have come under the spotlight for their an harmonised approach leads to a
sions for chemicals safety management effects on human health including toxic/ safer, more effi cient, and cost-effective
including the draft ‘Indian Chemicals carcinogenic impacts through pro- method to implementing sound chemi-
Safety Management Rules’, the need longed exposure. The panel took note cals management.
to adopt the UN-GHS classifi cation, of the recent developments in this re-
the growing incidence of regulations gard, including the notifi cation of new The third element is how the regu-
and sustainability reporting require- classifi cation criteria for EDs by the EU lations should operate on chemicals
ments globally, and how India should in the CLP legislation, and the ongoing based on risk assessment. A simpler
evolve policy that will balance business discussion (draft proposal) in the EU, approach is to accept prior risk assess-
interests with social & environmental and the US, for PFAS to be banned/ ments available from other regulations.
imperatives. The Roundtable also took restricted altogether. The current diffi - It is also important that the administra-
note of the policy to notify Quality culties are that the UN-GHS does not tion of regulations should be based on
Control Orders (QCOs) mandating BIS yet provide a classifi cation of the EDs, the OECD good regulatory practices
(Bureau of Indian Standards) certifi ca- and the banning of PFAS would have and should be supported by a formal
tion on identifi ed chemicals. a profound impact on industries such regulatory impact assessment.
as textiles, packaging, and cookware,
Panel 1: What will the new UN where they are widely used. The panel ACF outcomes
Framework for Chemicals and Waste deliberated on whether a risk-based The discussions brought into focus
Management mean for Asia? approach would lead to more balanced the most updated trends and emerging
Taking note of the fi fth session of regulations that would eliminate high- policy developments on the subjects,
the ICCM5, the speakers on the panel risk chemicals, but allow the use of deliberated with a focus on Asian coun-
reiterated the need for the new frame- those with minimal risk. tries, that are in various stages of deve-
work to support actions needed to tackle loping national policies on chemicals
the pollution crisis, maximise the con- Panel 3: What is the right manage- management, and their integration with
tributions towards sustainable deve- ment system for industrial and con- the global developments including the
lopment, including the need to protect sumer chemicals in Asia? UN Framework. The key outcomes and
human health and environment through During this panel, regulatory ex- recommendations of the ACF 2023 are
changes in behaviour, and develop- perts deliberated on the principal fea- outlined below:

180 Chemical Weekly October 17, 2023

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