Chemistry: Industry and Trade Renew Partnership Agreement

11-12-2007: The chemical industry in Germany and the chemical trade renew their successful cooperation for a continuous improvement of safety, health and environmental protection. An existing agreement to this effect - within Responsible Care (RC) - was extended between Verband der Chemischen Industrie (VCI) and Verband Chemiehandel (VCH), with the signatures of VCI President Professor Dr Ulrich Lehner and VCH President Carl Hugo Erbslöh. In their partnership agreement, both associations highlight the contributions of the chemical sector to the international Responsible Care initiative which is currently being implemented in 53 countries.

Eleven years ago VCI and VCH had concluded an initial partnership agreement with which the chemical trade joined "Verantwortliches Handeln", as the Responsible Care initiative is called in Germany.Thusthe memberships of VCI and VCH, totalling around 1,700 companies, are committed to Responsible Care.

For VCI and VCH, product responsibility in the supply chain is the focal point of their joint initiative. Manufacturers, suppliers and users want to cooperate mainly in the development of improved processes, toward a safer and appropriate use of chemicals. Verband Chemiehandel will also involve those parts of the transport sector thatare closely connected with chemicals, in the German Responsible Care programme.