Robert Stuyt, secretary general of the International Chemical Trade Association (ICTA), is building partnerships abroad to connect best practices in chemical distribution.
The International Chemical Trade Association (ICTA) is seeking to build further alliances with global chemical distributor trade associations and individual chemical distributors, says its secretary general, Robert Stuyt.
“We are building bridges between associations in different countries, especially in countries with no distribution trade organization,” he explains. “Here, we can work in the interest of distributors by helping to bring up safety standards and spreading the importance of Responsible Care and Responsible Distribution.” For chemical distributors with operations worldwide, ICTA can act as their distributor trade group in that country, he adds.
ICTA operates three working committees – on substance, safety, health and environment (SSHE); transport and security (T&S); and Responsible Care/Responsible Distribution.
“We support and initiate activities to better develop international chemical trade. If you’re a U.S. distributor that does business in India, and know that a company there is covered under an ICTA program, you may be more confident in their operations,” says Stuyt.
TIES WITH INDIAN CHEMICAL COUNCIL
ICTA is building ties with the Indian Chemical Council (ICC), which represents all branches of the chemical industry in the country, from petrochemicals and inorganics to dyes, fertilizers, and specialty chemicals.
In 2018, ICTA and ICC signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation on Responsible Care/Responsible Distribution, the global standards for environmental, health, safety and security performance.
“We are building bridges between associations in different countries, especially in countries with no distribution trade organization”. “We want to have a joint workforce on Responsible Care/Responsible Distribution and hold workshops where we bring in local and international partners,” says Stuyt. In 2019, the secretary general also plans to seek ties with the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation (CPCIF), the country’s largest producer association. “We would want to work on Responsible Care/ Responsible Distribution with them and would aim for an MoU, which was discussed during the Responsible Care conference held by CPCIF in March in Beijing,” he noted.
ICTA also works to increase the visibility of the chemical distribution industry at global intergovern-mental organizations, and engages with policy makers, journalists, and other business associations. For instance, ICTA is closely involved in United Nations initiatives such as the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM), where it is involved in developing the post-2020 framework, says Stuyt. ICTA views itself as the distributors’ version of the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA), the global umbrella group for chemical producers. ICTA has intensified contact with ICCA on sustainability, the circular economy, Responsible Care/Responsible Distribution, and other issues, says Stuyt. Both organizations are also aligning their advocacy messages at intergovernmental organizations, such as UN Environment, he adds.
ACCESS TO GLOBAL BEST PRACTICES
ICTA’s member associations include the European Association of Chemical Distributors (Fecc), the U.S.-based National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD), the Brazilian Association of Chemical Distributors (Associquim), Mexico’s National Association of Chemical Industry (ANIQ) and the UK’s Chemical Business Association (CBA), among others. ICTA also has 20 member companies, including global distributors Brenntag, Univar, and Azelis. “Company members gain access to global best practices and knowledge of legal and technical issues,” says Stuyt. “Next to that, they receive early updates on intended global policies and the possibility of influ-ence on the development of those policies. Mem-bers also have the opportunity to meet their global peers at ICTA’s biannual events,” he adds.
Source: Chemical Distributor, volume 43 | No 2, April - June 2019, written by Joseph Chang.
Photo: Robert Stuyt and Marco Mensink signed the partnership agreement between ICCA and ICTA