Gulf SQAS site assessments paused during COVID-19 crisis
30 June 2020
As COVID-19 makes its way across the globe, it’s affecting our communities in different
ways. GPCA is encouraging all its partners to follow WHO best practices to keep yourself
and your loved ones safe...
As COVID-19 makes its way across the globe, it’s affecting our communities in different
ways. GPCA is encouraging all its partners to follow WHO best practices to keep yourself
and your loved ones safe.
However, as global hotspots continue to shift and the contagion pattern is not yet fully
understood. With that uncertainty, we need to make prudent choices to protect the health of
the broader communities we belong to, without creating unnecessary disruptions to the
normal pursuit of our mission.
In continuation with the G-SQAS efforts and under GPCA’s Responsible Care committee
directives, we would like to recommend avoiding enforcing any physical site visits or audits
to your chemical logistics service providers (LSPs). Instead, we propose using the attached
self-assessment questionnaire which is a practical way to reduce the risk of spreading the
virus for you and your LSPs. We urge you to share it with your chemical LSPs and ask them
to fill the same and return to you electronically. You may also choose to ask them for
photographic evidence.
In addition, kindly note that G-SQAS assessments will be suspended till 30th June 2020 and
the validity of expiring reports during this time will also remain active until 30th of June 2020.
We may revise this date further depending on the situation nearer to the date.
I wish you the best of health. Stay safe!
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Gulf SQAS outreach session in Oman
16 September 2019
the G-SQAS Sub-committee conducted an outreach session in Oman to
raise awareness of the GSQAS program amongst Oman’s chemical logistics sector. The session kicked off by introducing
GPCA and the G-SQAS initiative highlighting the return of G-SQAS on the industry....
the G-SQAS Sub-committee conducted an outreach session in Oman to
raise awareness of the GSQAS program amongst Oman’s chemical logistics sector. The session kicked off by introducing
GPCA and the G-SQAS initiative highlighting the return of G-SQAS on the industry.
The outreach session was attended by 50 representatives. The Sub-Committee extended its outreach efforts
during the 3rd RC Conference, reaching out to KSA regulators and conducting sessions within member companies
to raise awareness among procurement departments.
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GOVERNMENT AND CHEMICAL INDUSTRY COLLABORATION
HARMONIZED CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT IN GCC
Roundtable workshops aimed to minimize the gap between the industry and the regulatory bodies. Reaching out to 395 regulators across the GCC, the outreach program had proved its effectiveness building a platform for collaboration between both sectors. This successful series has taken place in Riyadh, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi in the last 2 years.
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Abu Dhabi regulators roundtable
06 February 2020
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 06 February 2020 – he Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association
(GPCA), the voice of the chemical industry in the Arabian Gulf, has called for a region-wide adoption and
implementation of a new chemicals management framework in the Arabian Gulf at a governmentindustry roundtable
which took place in Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi on 6 February.
The roundtable entitled ‘Government and Chemical Industry Collaboration: Harmonized Chemical
Management in GCC’, which was hosted by Borouge and organized by GPCA, sought to pave the way for
the implementation of GHS (Global Harmonized System) and ADR (Dangerous Goods Road Transport)
regulations in the GCC.
The new regulations will allow for the creation of a robust and successful chemical management
framework, which in turn will help safeguard the safety and wellbeing of the general public by reducing the
risk of incidents involving hazardous chemicals due to lack of knowledge and adequate understanding, and
help increase confidence and trust of citizens in the industrial community.
Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, Secretary General, GPCA, commented, “As part of our efforts to drive the
improvement of standards in the region and facilitate collaboration, GPCA has joined forces with the Gulf
Standardization Organization (GSO), recently signing an MoU for collaboration in the development of
effective regional industry standards. Moving forward, GPCA is committed to harmonizing chemical
industry regulations in the GGC and will continue to work closely with GSO and other GCC regulators to
help meet these objectives that benefit both industry and society and serve the region’s economic
interest.”
Abdulrahman Al Ateek, SVP Corporate Affairs of Abu Dhabi Polymers Company (Borouge) said: “In line with
our commitment to Responsible Care best practice, Borouge strongly advocates implementing a new
chemicals management framework across GCC countries. It is important to set clear and unified
classification standards to deal with hazardous chemicals to ensure the safety of our people moving,
handling and processing chemicals.”
Throughout 2018-19, GPCA organized a series of government industry roundtables on harmonized
chemicals management in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain, reaching out to over 325 regulators
across the GCC, with the 5
th edition of this highly successful event held in Abu Dhabi, UAE for the first time.
The roundtable was attended by 80 delegates, among whom were representatives from the UAE Ministry
of Climate Change and Environment, the Supreme Petroleum Council, Emirates Authority for
Standardization & Metrology – ESMA, and Etihad Rail, as well as the Public Authority for Industry of
Kuwait and the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu in Saudi Arabia.
Introduced by the UN, GHS is a single worldwide system for classifying and communicating the hazardous
properties of industrial and consumer chemicals. GPCA strongly advocates for the adoption of GHS in the
region as it will improve the safety of employees and protect the environment by promoting safe handling
of chemicals.
ADR, the Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road, is an international
regulation, based on the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods Model Regulations.
Adopting ADR in the region will help to establish a safe and uniform handling and transportation of
dangerous goods.
About the Gulf Petrochemicals & Chemicals Association
The Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) was established in 2006 to represent the
downstream hydrocarbon industry in the Arabian Gulf. Today, the association voices the common interests
of more than 250-member companies from the chemical and allied industries, accounting for over 95
percent of chemical output in the GCC. The industry makes up the second largest manufacturing sector in
the region, producing over USD 108 billion worth of products every year.
GPCA supports the petrochemical and chemical industry in the Arabian Gulf through advocacy, networking
and thought leadership initiatives aimed at helping member companies to connect, share and advance
knowledge, contribute to international dialogue, and become prime influencers in shaping the future of
the global petrochemicals industry.
Committed to providing a regional platform for stakeholders from around the world, GPCA manages six
working committees – Plastics, Supply Chain, Fertilizers, International Trade, Research and Innovation, and
Responsible Care – and organizes six world-class events each year. The association also publishes an annual
report, regular newsletters and various other industry reports.
For more information, visit www.gpca.org.ae
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