The Hague-based Organisation for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) recently carried out inspection of Asiatic Colour Chemical Industry Ltd in Gujarat and found everything was in order as per the Annual Declarations on Past Activities (ADPA), 2010.

The inspection team carried out verification activities which consisted of physical inspection of the plant site and its common infrastructure, the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (DCPC) said.

Asiatic Colour manufactures dyes for the leather industry. Its activities incorporate manufacturing of dyes falling under discreet organic chemicals (DOC) containing sulphur.

The plant site is located in Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation industrial area outskirts of Ahmedabad.

According to the DCPC, three DOC production plants having same configuration producing three types of azo dyes. These azo dyes contain element sulphur in their sulphonic acid chemical structure.

?All plants are manually operated and equipped with reactors consisting of open vessels fitted with mechanical agitators. The material of construction of these vessels is mild carbon steel, rubber lined in the top and brick lined in the bottom,? it said.

?The OPCW inspection went smooth and found everything was in order as per the declaration of ADPA, 2010. Accordingly, we may send acceptance of findings of OPCW inspection report to NACWC (National Authority Chemical Weapons Convention),? the DCPC said.

To create awareness among the stakeholders on the obligations under CWC, and the CWC Act and to improve the quality of declarations by the industry, a series of awareness generation programmes are held at various locations in the country with a concentration of chemical industry relevant to CWC.

The DCPC is responsible for submission of industry declarations, facilitation of inspections by OPCW teams as also creating awareness in the industry about its obligations under CWC. Certain toxic chemicals and their precursors are covered under the ambit of the CWC, of which India is a signatory.