BSEF - VOLUNTARY INDUSTRY COMMITMENT WITH OECD

VOLUNTARY INDUSTRY COMMITMENT WITH OECD

Brominated Flame Retardants Industry signed a Voluntary Industry Commitment with OECD in 1995.

In 2003, the industry is discussing the review of the VIC commitment with OECD.

In 1995 the major global brominated flame retardant manufacturers through CMA’s Brominated Flame Retardant Industry Panel (BFRIP) and CEFIC’s European Brominated Flame Retardant Industry panel (EBFRIP) signed the first ever OECD Voluntary Industry Commitment (VIC) within the framework of the OECD’s pilot Risk Reduction programme. Included within the scope of the VIC are polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and tetrabromobisphenol (TBBPA). Further commitment by Japanese producers was incorporated in VIC in 1996.

The VIC reaches out to customers through the CMA and CEFIC Responsible Care® Product Stewardship initiatives. The global brominated flame retardant manufacturers informs and educates their customers on the proper handling, use, recycling and disposal of the products.

Under the VIC, the major global brominated flame retardant manufacturers commited:

not to produce, initiate manufacture or import/export PBBs.

not to manufacture non commercial PBDEs congeners as individual flame retardants except when present as part of the commercial Deca-, Octa- and Penta-BDE products.

to improve the purity to 97% or greater of DecaBDE and to minimize levels of hexa- and lower brominated diphenyl oxide congeners in commercial Octa-BDE.

to minimize levels of release of PentaBDE during manufacture and regularly review the existing Responsible Care® Pollution Prevention and Product Stewardship programs to ensure the proper handling, use and disposal of PentaBDE.

to providing data regarding various toxicity and environment studies including on the safe disposal and recycling of products containing these brominated flame retardants.

to report on compliance with the terms of this agreement to OECD at regular intervals.