SIAM hosts its 11th Lecture Series on Management of Hazardous Chemicals in Automotive Sector

Mumbai, 26^th March 2021 (GNI): In order to address the environmental implications, the auto industry apex body, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), organised its 11^th Lecture Series on, “Management of Hazardous Chemicals in Automotive Sector: National & International Regime”, on a virtual platform, today.The virtual lecture session Management of Hazardous Chemicals is even more relevant in view of recent announcement of draft Scrappage Policy. Furthermore, there are slew of other policy and regulatory interventions to promote private investment towards the creation of sustainable and environment-friendly recycling ecosystem led by the automobile industry.

There is a growing focus on sustainable material management and environmentally safe disposals hazardous chemicals, therefore, it is imperative to share knowledge and best practices including capacity building for management of hazardous chemicals including their disposal in environment friendly and economically viable way. In view of this, the lecture series highlighted the importance of conjoint efforts from the government, auto component industry and auto industry for developing better and safer strategies for management of chemicals in automotive sector.

The panel comprised of industry veterans, including the likes of Dr Atul N Vaidya, Head of Chemicals & Hazardous Waste Management Division, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR- NEERI); Dr Jitendra Sharma, Program Management Officer, UN Environment Program (UNEP); Mr Ravi Agrawal, Director, Toxic Link; Mr Craig Howard, Senior Engineer (Chemical Regulatory Compliance), General Motors USA; Mr Kiran Kumar Jagatap, Senior Manager, General Motors USA; Mr B Prabhaker, CEO Product Compliance Consultancy Services; Dr Sukumar Devotta, Former Director (CSIR-NEERI) Subject Expert and Dr Rashid Hasan, Advisor, SIAM.

They shared their valuable insights on the following topics:

·         Use of Hazardous Chemicals in automotive sector and their and their environmentally sound management

·         Management & handling of hazardous chemicals: Learnings from International BSR Conventions

·         BSR conventions & status of POPs & implication for automotive sector

·         Hazardous chemicals used in automotive sector vis-à-vis existing regulatory regime viz. REACH, GADSL, RoHS etc.

·         IMDS & its role in the management of Hazardous Chemicals in automotive sector

Mr Prashant K Banerjee, Executive Director, SIAM, said “India’s progress in vehicle safety and sustainable mobility sends a message about what automotive industry has achieved as the milestones which have been encouragement by both policies of the Government and efforts of the industry.  Millions of lives can be saved by the safer and sustainable mobility with collaboratives efforts of all stakeholders including Government, Industry and Civil Society.

SIAM has organized the 11th environment lecture series on ‘Management of Hazardous Chemicals in Automotive Sector: National & International Regime today for sharing knowledge and best practices for stakeholders from OEMs, ACMA, Government, regulatory bodies, etc. The lecture series deliberated on the emerging technologies and strategies for better management of hazardous chemicals used in Indian automotive sector in alignment with global regulatory regime and best practices by applying cradle to grave principle so as to minimize its negative impacts on environment and human health. These SIAM environment lecture series will facilitate not only the environment sustainability but also the business sustainability and putting the country on a sustainable growth path.”

The 11^th Lecture Series noted that responsible chemical management would need regular and systematic assessing, evaluating and taking all necessary measures to ensure safe chemical tracking throughout the lifecycle and minimize the impact during every stage on environment, human health and climate change, stated in the press release..

About SIAM: The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) is a not-for-profit apex national body representing all major vehicle and vehicular engine manufacturers in India. SIAM works towards supporting the sustainable development of the Indian Automobile Industry with the vision that India emerges as the destination of choice in the world for design and manufacture of automobiles. It also works towards facilitating enhancement of the competitiveness of the Indian Automobile Industry, reducing the cost of vehicles, increasing productivity, and achieving global standards of quality.ends