ECO-TOX Labels
In January 1996, ICT issued the following press release:
ICT launches ECO-TOX LABEL for leather
In an endeavour to bring some order into the confused situation
relating to informative labelling of leather, the International
Council Of Tanners, on January 1 1996, launched a pro-forma
Environmental Impact & Safety Compliance Statement.
As with the leathermark itself, ICT's role has been to co-ordinate
differing views and to present them in a format that can be
used by its Member Associations and individual tanneries.
National Associations representing 70% of global leather production
have been admitted into membership of ICT since it was founded
in 1926.
In formulating its Environmental Impact & Safety Compliance
Statement ICT has made use of the Self-Declaration format
which is being developed by the ISO technical committee on
Environmental Management. However, rather than wait for completion
of the ISO deliberations, or those initiated by UNIDO, ICT
deems it desirable to take the initiative now.
ICT asks those using its Environmental Impact & Safety
Compliance Statement to confirm
- That the producer is complying with national legislation
relating to treatment and disposal of wastes;
- No cetacean (eg. sperm oil) or other products derived
from CITES listed species (Annex I & II) have been used
in processing;
- The status of the suppliers Environmental Management Audit
Scheme is defined;
- The absence of specified process chemicals that some authorities
consider to be an environmental or safety hazard.
It is believed that this statement will satisfy the requirements
of those customers seeking to market leather based products
bearing one of the many Eco-labels now proliferating in a
number of countries. The ICT approach is one of minimum cost
to all parties.
ICT does not agree with those who consider self-declaration
to be the soft option as in most countries the use of the
ICT Compliance Statement would be deemed to form part of the
description relating to the leather.
ICT ECO-TOX labels are available from the offices of ICT,
priced at Swiss Francs CHF 50.00 per 1,000 labels, plus postage.
Email: sec@tannerscouncilict.org
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