SOCMA President Discusses Issues, Member Benefits During Visit to MFG Chemical

SOCMA President Discusses Issues, Member Benefits During Visit to MFG Chemical

For Immediate Release May 7, 2013

MFG Chemical, Inc. recently welcomed Lawrence D. Sloan, President of the Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates (SOCMA), to its Kimberly Park facility in Dalton, GA. Sloan, who was in Georgia last week visiting five SOCMA member companies, discussed legislative and regulatory issues impacting the specialty chemical industry, as well as products and services the association offers its members to help them maintain a safe, sustainable and environmentally responsible operation and be competitive in the global marketplace.

One of the current issues that could have a significant impact on specialty chemical makers is the proposed reform of the Toxic Substances Control (TSCA), a program enacted to protect human health and the environment from potential risks resulting from exposures to industrial chemicals without impeding or creating unnecessary economic barriers to technical innovation. During his visit with members of the MFG staff, Sloan said SOCMA believes Congress should:

Support carefully tailored fixes to TSCA, achieved in a bipartisan manner: Senator David Vitter (R-LA) is spearheading efforts to achieve this.

• Provide for adequate protection of trade secrets, balancing public right-to-know with promoting innovation.
• Maintain the current TSCA new chemicals program, since it works well and promotes “greener” chemistry.
• Give EPA the authority to collect more comprehensive information on an accurate inventory of chemicals in commerce.
• Avoid creating redundant requirements on the already highly regulated chemical industry.

MFG Chemical President and CEO Chuck Gavin had an opportunity to voice his concerns about TSCA reform and other issues during face-to-face meetings with lawmakers as part of SOCMA’s Washington Fly-In in April. This annual grassroots event is one of the many advocacy and networking opportunities the association offers its members throughout the year.

Sloan also discussed the value of SOCMA products and services, including ChemStewards^®, the association’s environmental, health, safety and security (EHS&S) program. All members are required to comply with the strict standards of ChemStewards, and members of the SOCMA staff are constantly reviewing and updating parameters of the program to reflect industry best practices. MFG has been ChemStewards certified since 2009.

“It was great having Larry come down and visit some of the Georgia member companies,” Gavin said. “After our meeting, I had the chance to take Larry to visit some Dalton area chemical companies that are not SOCMA members and let him tell them about the benefits of membership. There is no question that SOCMA and their ChemStewards program have made MFG a better and safer manufacturer.”

MFG has been a member of SOCMA, the only U.S.-based trade association dedicated to the batch, custom and specialty chemical industry, since 1990. SOCMA has a global membership of more than 220 members that employ 46,500 people and contribute $24 billion to the U.S. economy.