Clariant REAChes out for Leather

13 Aug '09

3 min read

The Leather Business of Clariant Chemicals (India) Ltd. hosted a seminar on REACh awareness for its Leather customers in Chennai on July 16, 2009. In his elaborate presentation, Dr. Dileep Wakankar, Head - Corporate Product Safety, Clariant Chemicals (India) Ltd, discussed the concepts and implications of REACh for the Leather Industry. “EU regulation for Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals entered into force on 1st June 2007. It aims at improving safety to human health and environment by filling data gaps, demanding authorization for chemicals of very high concern and fostering substitution.

The guiding principles are:
- reversal of 'burden of proof' from authorities to industry.
- 'no data, no market'.
“The chemicals to be registered include all substances and substances in preparations and articles manufactured, imported or used downstream and it encompasses approximately 30,000 substances on the EU market. Every manufacturer or importer must register or stop production, import or use. Downstream users can prepare own chemical safety reports for 'non-identified uses' of substances and specific applications.”
Reach Legislation is meant to ensure high level of protection to human health and environment while achieving sustainable development. It ensures free movement of substances and encourages competitiveness and innovation while aiming at promoting development of alternative method for hazards assessment.

Reach affects non European companies if:
1. they are importing from EU based companies
2. they are exporting to EU based importers or down stream users
3. if their products contain any of the SVHC's and
4. if they are exporting articles containing substances intended to be released intentionally.
5. The Indian leather industry exports 'articles' but usually not containing any substances intended for release or containing any SVHC beyond limits. It is thus not very highly affected by Reach.

Mr. Anjani K. Prasad – Head TLP Division, Clariant Chemicals (India) Ltd. detailed the various offerings and services which Clariant in India has on offer and can be taken advantage of by the customers.

Concluding the meeting, Mr. P Rajasekaran, Head-Leather Business, Clariant Chemicals (India) Ltd pointed out that this high value technical symposium will go a long way in enabling the local industry to adapt and suit itself to the changing demands while helping build confidence on Clariant's abilities to deliver, irrespective of the changing scenarios.
The highly interactive Q&A sessions was moderated by Dr Wakankar. Many of the participants opined that this knowledge on Reach will definitely help them to cater in a better way to their buyer's queries on Reach and improve their business in manifold ways.

Dr. Wakankar, M.Sc, Ph.D, in Organic Chemistry having 26 years of industrial experience has several publications in national and international journals. He is the Head of Corporate Product Safety, Clariant Chemicals (India) Ltd. Presently, he is member of executive committee of Chemexcil and Indian Chemical Council. He is also Chairman of REACH & GHS Committee of Indian Chemical Council and member of the Indo-German joint working group – ministry of chemicals & fertilizers.

Clariant Chemicals (India) Ltd

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