India ratifies ban on seven chemicals that are hazardous to health & environment listed under Stockholm Convention
5th November 2020
BSEF, The International Bromine Council, takes note of the recent India Union Government ratifying the Stockholm Convention bans on certain brominated flame retardants – HBCD (Hexabromocyclododecane), the PBDEs (Hexabromodiphenyl ether, Heptabromodiphenylether (Commercial octa-BDE), Tetrabromodiphenyl ether and Pentabromodiphenyl ether (Commercial penta-BDE).
These substances were originally banned under the Convention in 2010 (PBDEs) and 2014 (HBCD). BSEF member companies ceased production and sale of the chemicals in 2003 (PBDEs), in 2010 (Deca-BDE) and 2016 (HBCD) respectively.
BSEF welcomes the move by the Indian authorities to opt-in to the Convention bans on these substances as it will align Indian regulatory controls with other global regions. This decision will certainly demand more effective end of life treatment for products containing these substances.
“BSEF and its member companies have considerable experience and know how when it comes to end of life treatment of products that may contain these substances”, highlighted Dr Kevin Bradley Secretary General. “We are ready to assist the Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MEFCC) in understanding what strategies, processes and end of life treatment options are required to effectively manage environmental and human exposures”, he added.
BSEF member companies are innovating towards more sustainable molecules to replace these legacy PBDEs.
About BSEF
BSEF – the International Bromine Council, is the global representative body for bromine producers and producers of bromine technologies. Originally founded in 1997, BSEF works to foster knowledge on the societal benefits of bromine and its applications. The members of BSEF are Albemarle Corporation, ICL Industrial Products, Lanxess and Tosoh.
Visit www.bsef.org to learn more and follow BSEF on Twitter @BromineInfo for the latest news and information.