Mumbai, Oct 7: The Council for Leather Exports (CLE) has strongly objected to the news that `Asia made shoes can cause cancer' which appeared in a section of the press. CLE has strongly stated that the leather production in India strictly follows the regulations that are in force in the European Union (EU). As EU countries are the major markets for Indian made shoes, particular care is taken by Indian manufacturers of leather and allied products to conform to lthe requirements of these markets.In its efforts the industry in India is helped by such international organisations as Indo-German Export Promotion Project, New Delhi, Unido's regional programme for pollution control in south-east Asia and premier national research and development organisations such as Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) and National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (Neeri).
The use of PCP (Penta Chloro Phenol) was banned in India, soon after its was banned in Europe. Similarly, the use of azo dyes and other similar substances are also banned in India.
Hence, leather produced in the country when tested for azo dyes in Germany were found to be generally free of these chemicals. In this context, the various multinational chemical companies operating in India, joined hands with Indian manufacturers of leather and shoes and helped the Indian industry overcome the crisis of azo dyes.
According to M Mohamed Hashim, chairman of CLE, a few samples of different types of leather in different stages of production were sent recently to a reputed laboratory in Germany through an international organisation for testing of harmful substances including chrome-VI. The results obtained indicate that the leathers produced in the country are free from harmful substances including chrome VI.
At a time, when the Indian leather industry has invested substantially in modernising production base and making it entirely environment-friendly, such mischievous reports based on pitifully small sized samples which do not allow any definite conclusions to be drawn and appears to be with ulterior motives, feels CLE.
In fact, India is one of the few countries in Asia that has gone far ahead with the completion of procedure for establishment of an ECO label for leather produced here.
"We strongly condemn such motivated reports and wishes to assure its buyers in Europe and the rest of the world that the products made in India conform to all their quality requirements. Such unfounded reports deserve to be rejected," CLE added.
CLE will take up this matter with EU and other relevant international bodies to check publication of such baseless reports which can do great damage to fair practices in international trade.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.