In a leg-up to chemical industry towards reducing the cost of complying with the European Union legislation --REACH--, the Good Manufacturing Practises (GMP) laboratories in the country have been accredited by the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

The aim of the legislation was to protect human health and environment from the hazardous effects of chemicals and to have a sustainable chemical policy.

"18 GMP laboratories in India have been accredited by the OECD. The data generated by these laboratories will now be accepted by the EU," Department of Chemical and Petrochemical Director Sanjay Bansal said.At present there were laboratories set up only abroad charging exorbitantly for sharing details of that data profile so that chemicals could be registered with those countries for exports, he said.In March 2011, India became fully adherent to OECD Council Act relating to mutual acceptance of data in the assessment of chemicals, he added.

"This means that non clinical health and environment safety data generated on chemicals by GMP laboratory in India will be accepted by OECD member countries including European Union," Bansal said.This will facilitate the Indian companies to become compliant with EU norms, he said.In the past, a significant challenge to global competitiveness of Indian chemical sector had emerged in the form of EU legislation on REACH, which came into effect from June 2007.

The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals in collaboration with the Department of Commerce and CHEMEXCIL is making efforts to simplify this process and ensure that compliance clause is rationalised, Bansal added

Source : ibnlive.in.com