Global Product Strategy

The “Global Product Strategy” (GPS) is closely associated with REACH. This initiative and self-obligation of the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA) has the support of many national chemical associations. ALTANA has also agreed to contribute to GPS as part of its product stewardship
and sustainability efforts. The goal of GPS is to reduce differences in chemicals safety between developing countries, emerging economies, and industrial countries. The effort will increase product safety and sustainably improve
the handling of chemical products, while creating fair global competition. GPS therefore benefits environmental and occupational safety and implements the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) of the United Nations.

The implementation follows the same time schedule as REACH. The goal is to make the insights of REACH (toxicology and ecotoxicology data, measures for safe handling) available to the public online (both on the ICCA website and on company sites) in useful summaries. This makes the necessary information available to all users of a substance on a global basis and without dependency on a supplier.

The first self-imposed deadline expired at the end of 2011 for substances registered in late 2010. ALTANA published an online summary for three registered substances that allowed for such a step (see www.icca-chem.org/en/Home/ICCA-initiatives/global-product-strategy or www.altana.com/sustainability/environment/global-product-strategy.html). This was not feasible for two substances because of confidentiality. In this respect, we hope for solutions from chemical associations so that ALTANA can continue to contribute to GPS in the years to come.