Product Safety & Responsibility

As a leading global chemical company, ICL is careful to ensure that the chemical substances it produces and sells are handled in accordance with all rules and regulations throughout their life cycle. As ICL produces and sells chemicals worldwide, it is bound by multiple regulations. 

In Europe, the main program that affects the company is the REACH regulation.  ICL prepared documentation which provide information regarding the chemicals and give proper guidance to employees, contractors, customers and the public on the safe use of its chemicals and products. All ICL divisions implement the European Regulation for Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) by submitting documentation on chemical substances manufactured or imported into Europe in quantities of more than one tonne per year. ICL has volunteered to lead and prepare the joint dossiers for dozens of substances (acting as a “Lead Registrant”).

ICL is also currently engaged, under the REACH Regulation, in the evaluation stage of a number of its chemicals and was required to follow up and update all of its Lead dossiers. The European Chemical Agency (ECHA) lists substances that are “substances of very high concern”. ICL has a few products included in the list. The company has developed sustainable alternatives to these products.

In the USA, new requirements were added to the Toxic Substance Control Act. The most significant, is the reporting of the regulated substances and the amounts manufactured or imported to the USA. In South Korea, a regulation similar to the REACH (Act on Registration and Evaluation etc. of Chemicals, known as – K-REACH) has entered into force in the beginning of 2019.  

ICL expects future regulatory changes that will impact its products, such as:

• The new future European Fertilizers Law that will require fertilizer producers to monitor additional contaminating elements in fertilizer products that were not subject to monitoring in the past, and for this purpose an examination is to be made of the existence of appropriate analytical methods and full compliance with their levels. In addition, pursuant to the new law, fertilizer producers must demonstrate their ability to track their products, to ensure the quality related to their production and supply chain.  The EU Regulation concerning Fertilizing Products ((EU)2019/1009) was published on the 25 June 2019 and will enter into force on 16 July 2019. From that day onwards industry has 3 years to get ready, as by 16 July 2022 the date of application passes and from that day onwards the EC2003/2003 becomes obsolete.
• Various countries are assessing possible limitations on the use of specific chemicals used as flame retardants, biocides and other uses.

ICL is a producer of Methyl Bromide (used for soil fumigation) which has been included in the list of controlled substances under the Montreal Protocol. This substance is being phased out internationally other than for critical uses. As a result, ICL has significantly reduced its production of Methyl Bromide (for soil fumigation application) over the past 20 years.

To read more about regulations and limitations on our products, please see ICL’s 2018 Annual Report (pages 87-89).