Document RGXV6NG5L25OxJp6JVxOvkza

(722) MINUTES of the one hundred sixth meeting of the Directors of the Manu facturing Chemists' Association, Inc., held at The Sheraton-Cadillac, Detroit, Michigan, on Tuesday,March 14, 1961. There were present: Peter C. Allen Bennett S. Chappie, Jr. R. L. Cunningham Leland I. Doan J. Robert Fisher A. E. Forster William B. Graham George E. Holbrook John E. Hull R. F. Huntley Theodore Marvin R. C. McCurdy W, Kenneth Menke Warren H, Moyer Robert B. Semple Charles H. Sommer C. Y. Thomas Harry B. Warner M. F. Crass, Jr. Alternates: Henry Avery (for W. Kenneth Menke) C. W. Baldwin (for Bennett S. Chappie, Jr.) Bert Cremers (for Robert B. Semple) David H. Dawson (for George E. Holbrook) John L. Gillis (for Charles H. Sommer) W. T. D. Ross (for Peter C. Allen) James H. Worth (for R. W. KixMiller) General Counsel: Present by Invitation: Marx Leva -- Fowler, Leva, Hawes 8c Symington Donald K. Ballman, The Dow Chemical Company Chester L. French, Mallinckrodt Chemical Works P. C. Reilly, Reilly Tar 8c Chemical Corporation Howard Roderick, Miles Chemical Company Robert F. Uncles, American Cyanamid Company John E. Wood, IH, Enjay Chemical Company I. WELCOME TO GUESTS AND ALTERNATES. Chairman McCurdy welcomed those present and invited them to participate actively in the discussion. He briefly discussed the program of the day and thanked Messrs. Semple and Doan for their efforts in arranging details of the regional me ting and for providing the enjoyable dinner held the evening before at the Detroit Club. U. MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 14, 1961, MEETING. The Minutes of this meeting were duly approved as submitted to the members. IK. REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The Chairman stated that a meeting of the Executive Committee had been held earlier that day and that the items discussed would be taken up in their respectiv places on the Board agenda. CMA 067920 IV. REPORT OF THE TREASURER. (723) Financial Report, June - February 1961. The financial report for the nine months ending February 28, 1961, was summarized by the Treasurer. ON MOTION duly made and seconded, it was VOTED: That the report be accepted and placed on file. V. BOARD OF DIRECTORS. (a) Retirement Plan Audit. The Treasurer reported that an independent audit had been concluded by the firm of Bond, Beebe, Bond & Bond on all records of the MCA Retirement Plan from the time of its inception to the present. Included in the audit were the books of both the Trustee and the Treasurer. Recalculations of coverage showed minor computation errors in four cases, and these are now being checked with the insurance company for rectification. Copies of the audit have been supplied the Pension Committee and an additional copy is available at Association headquarters for examination. (b) Program Committee -- 89th Annual Meeting. Chairman Semple discussed program for the forthcoming Annual Meeting at White Sulphur Springs on June 8 - 10. Format will follow that of past meetings, and a member company president will address the group at the Annual Business Session on June 8. The usual Mixer, receptions, sport tournaments, and group dinners will follow. Speaker for the Banquet on June 9 will be Secretary of Commerce Luther H. Hodges. The new wing of the hotel has not yet been completed, and it will, therefore, be necessary to institute voluntary allocations on attendance due to space limitations. (c) Report of the Membership Committee. In the absence of Mr. Stauffer, the Secretary reported that application had been received from Standard Chemical Limited and that, in the opinion of the Membership Committee, the applicant was qualified for membership under the Association's By-Laws: ON MOTION duly made and seconded, it was VOTED: That the applicant be approved, subject to the 30-day notification to members provided under Article III, Section 4, of the By-Laws, (d) Washington Directors' Meeting and Reception, April 10 - 11. General Hull stated that a survey of Directors showed unanimous approval for the scheduling of the April Directors' Meeting in Washington. Program will begin on Monday, April 10, with a meeting of the Executive Committee at Association headquarters to review over-all program and budget for the forthcoming year. That evening, a r ception-buffet will be held from 6 to 8 p,m. at the Army & Navy Town Club to which will be invited Government officials and certain members of Congress. CMA 067921 (724) It was made clear that both Directors and their Alternates would be invited and in case neither could attend that another principal officer from their firm would be welcomed. The guest list is still fluid and Directors interested in inviting their Congressmen were asked to notify the staff. The Directors' Meeting on April 11 will immediately follow a breakfast scheduled for the Mayflower Hotel at 8:30 a.m. Formal program will terminate following conclusion of that meeting. Full details with respect to all events will be forwarded by the Secretary to Dir ctors shortly. (e) Dissolution of Hydrogen Peroxide Technical Committee. On recom mendation of the Committee and staff, the Directors approved dissolution of the Hydrogen Peroxide Technical Committee. Organized approximately six years ago, this ad hoc Committee has now completed its assignments with respect to packaging development, safe handling techniques, and transportation requirements under Interstate Commerce Commission regulations. This action is in accordance with Association policy whereby ad hoc groups are disbanded upon completion of their work. (f) Continuation of Secretariat -- ASTM Committee E-15. For the past two years, MCA has supplied the secretariat for ASTM Committee E-15, Standard ization of Methods of Analysis of Industrial Chemicals. This industry activity is participated in by 42 MCA member firms, and the Association has been officially requested by ASTM to continue the secretariat assignment for an additional two years. Involved is approximately 16 days of MCA staff and secretarial time per year. It was agreed that decision on continuance of the secretariat should be post poned until the over-all Association activities review has been concluded and reported upon at the April 11 Directors Meeting. VI. TECHNICAL AND FUNCTIONAL COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS. The following committee appointments were approved: (a) Advisory Committee for Physical Properties Research Project. Robert L. Moison, E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Inc., replacing H. S. Kemp. (b) Chemical Packaging Committee. James H. Begley, Stauffer Chemical Company. (c) Government liaison Technical Committee on Metals. W. F. Luckenbach, Jr., Foote Mineral Company, replacing W. W. Bennett. (d) Nuclear Committee. Myron G. Herre, Lithium Corporation of America, Inc., replacing D. L. Esmay. W. R. Hudspeth, Foote Mineral Company, replacing W. F. Luckenbach, Jr. * CMA 067922 (725) (e) Traffic Committee. Richard M. Boyd, Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, replacing F. G. Moore. (f) Water Pollution Abatement Committee. J. F. Byrd, The Procter & Gamble Company. Clarence W. Fisher, Koppers Company, Inc., replacing W. W, Hodge. VII. TECHNICAL AND FUNCTIONAL COMMITTEE REPORTS. Mr. McCurdy stated that the chairmen of two of the Association's major technical committees were present and would present progress reports approximating ten minutes each on the activities and programs of their respective groups as follows: (a) Chemical Packaging Committee -- Robert F. Uncles, Chairman. (b) Labels and Precautionary Information Committee -- Chester L. French, Chairman. Following conclusion of their remarks, Messrs. Uncles and French answered several questions and were then thanked by the Chairman for their excellent reports. Copies of both reports are appended to these Minutes. VHI. STAFF REPORT. (a) Federal Legislation. General Hull presented a brief report giving high lights of the current legislative situation in the Congress. Included in his report were the following items of specific concern to Association members: 1. Water Pollution Control Act. H.R. 4036, the Blatnik Bill, to comprehensively amend the Water Pollution Control Act of 1958, will be the subject of hearings before the House Public Works Committee in Washington this week. The MCA Water Pollution Abatement Committee opposes certain portions of this bill, both from the standpoint of cost and extension of Federal control at the expense of state and local jurisdiction. Our Committee has recommended that presentation of testimony in behalf of the Association be authorized. General Hull read a summary of proposed testimony suggested for presentation by Mr. O. C. Thompson, MCA Committee Chairman, on March 15. This had been cleared by the Executive Com mittee which recommended that the Board take affirmative action. ON MOTION duly made and seconded, it was VOTED: That Mr. Thompson's appearance and testimony be approved. 2. Food Additives Extension. It was reported that the House had passed and sent to the Senate H.R. 3980 to extend until June 30, 1964, the authority of the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to allow continued use of certain food additives until testing is completed to determine their safety. The extension applies 1 CMA 067923 (726) only to food additives in commercial use before January 1, 1958, on which such testing has not been completed. Because of widespread support, it is virtually certain that the bill will become law. Mr. K. E. Mulford, Chairman of the MCA Food Additives Committee, testified in favor of the bill. (b)U. S, Government Funds and Foreign Research. At the January 10, 1961, meeting, the Board authorized the President of MCA to dispatch a letter to the Director of the Bureau of the Budget suggesting careful review of U. S. Govern ment research expenditures abroad, especially in the light of the Nation's balanc of payments situation. Copy of draft letter was appended to the Minutes of that meeting. A reply has now been received, and copies were handed to those present. In summary, the jeply stated that no new task force is needed and that "this Administration is turning its attention more closely to the area of international science, including support of research and development in order to limit programs abroad to those needed in furthering the interests of the U.S. and to determine how these programs may best be administered. " (c) Trade with Russia. Following Board reaffirmation of policy with respect to sale of know-how and plant facilities to the Soviets, General Hull called on Secretary of Commerce Hodges and handed him a written summarization of such policy. Copies of the summarization letter were sent to the Secretaries of Defense and State and to the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. An acknowledgment has been received from Senator Fulbright which calls for a reply by the Association. (d) Technical Subcommittee on Chemical Propellant Safety. Following approval by the Board of terms of reference at the last meeting, this Subcommittee has now been tentatively selected and will hold its organizational meeting in Washington on March 15. A roster of personnel will be submitted to the Directors for confirmation at the April 11 meeting. (e) Patent Policy. The MCA Patent Committee is now engaged in drafting a statement of Association policy, with respect to title to patents taken out by private individuals and firms operating under Government research and development contracts, which it will submit to the Board at an early date for consideration. If approved, the Committee plans to utilize such policy statement should hearings be held on a number of bills now pending in the Congress. (f) Miscellaneous. Mr. Chappie reported briefly on results and public acceptance of the "Watch America Grow" project of his company. The Advertising Council has announced that it will take on and continue this program into the future. Written reports on the project will be sent by Mr. Chappie to those requesting them. * Following luncheon, approximately 15 of those present visisted the General i Motors' Technical Center, Warren, Michigan, as guests of General Motors Corporation. CMA 067924 j (727) There being no further business to come before the meeting, it was unanimously resolved to adjourn. M. F. Crass, Jr. Secretary APPROVED: R. C. McCurdy Chairman Attachments. CMA 067925 REPORT OF THE CHEMICAL PACKAGING COMMITTEE Presented by Robert F. Uncles, Chairman To The MCA Board of Directors March 14, 1961, Detroit, Michigan Gentlemen: It is a great privilege and pleasure to have been requested to appear before you on behalf of the Chemical Packaging Committee of the MCA. This committee had its beginnings some forty years ago with the formation of the Carboy Committee, and can point with pride to a long and impressive record of achievement in its four decades of service to the chemical industry. At no time, however, was the com mittee content to rest on its laurels, and each year its meeting agendas reflect an ever-increasing range of activities and areas of interest which demand the attention of this select group of the industry's most competent packaging engineers. The efforts of the committee in those earlier days have been referred to as "bread-and-butter" items --no glamor, little recognition, and only a scattered realization of the value of these achievements outside of the small group of men who believed in the basic and fundamental importance of package development to the growth and prosperity of the chemical industry. World War II, when the well-publicized and successful efforts of the Armed Forces to effect world-wide distribution of supplies and materiel made the word "logistics" a common household term, marked the start of growing awareness of packaging as an independent function and not simply a necessary appendage to the production line or another responsibility of the shipping department. Corporate recognition has followed even more slowly. Only in the past few years has it gained measurable impetus, and responsibility for packaging is being vested in higher management levels as this corporate recognition develops. In turn, this has provided a powerful stimulus to the development of new and improved packaging materials and techniques. It has been said that the world is moving so fast these days that the man who says it can't be done is apt to b interrupted by someone doing it. This is certainly true in the packaging field, but it is obvious that such efforts must be properly directed if the consuming industries are to gain the maximum benefit from these innovations and improvements. Thus we come to one of the major responsibilities of the Chemical Packaging Committee -to review new developments, to weed out and discard those of questionable value or which smack of gimmickry, and to assist the proponents of those which have merit in their further development and refinement to meet the exacting requirements of the chemical industry. Our Plastics Containers Subcommittee is particularly active in this regard and continues to make substantial contributions to the development and acceptance of all-plastic containers and composite plastic containers for the storage and ship ment of chemical products. CMA 067926 2- - To attempt to put a price tag on the value of this activity to the chemical . ^ industry would require clairvoyance of the highest order. There are, of course instances where the substitution of a new container for the one normally specify permits a substantial reduction in container cost. However, many of the benefits of good packaging as well as many of the penalties of poor or mediocre packaging are intangible and do not lend themselves to definition in terms of dollars and cents. What, for example, does it add to your net to be the first in the field with a new container, or to enjoy a reputation for packing a given product in a multi wall bag superior to that used by the industry in general, or to know that the quality of your container -- the first physical point of contact between your product and your customer -- must in some measure reflect the quality of your product? You know that such things have a plus value in today's competitive market, but its magnitude escapes definition. Of greatest importance, however, and this cannot be emphasized too strongly, is the plain fact that many of the chemical industry's new products would still be laboratory curiosities, impossible to market and distribute at reasonable cost or with adequate safety, were it not for these new packaging developments, encouraged and sponsored in many cases by the Chemical Packaging Committee. On the other side of the coin we have a second broad area of responsibility of the Chemical Packaging Committee -- the improvement of existing packages. For the most part, such improvements are made in small steps over a period of time, but each forward step is thoroughly tested and provides a firm foundation for further progress. The economic gain from each step might be small and pass unnoticed in the shadow of other benefits of more striking effect, but the total savings to the chemicil industry over the years, should anyone decided tockle' the monumental task of performing such a calculation, would be a staggering sum --of that there can be no question. Occasionally it is possible to take a giant stride, and the contribution of the Chemical Packaging Committee to the c'hemical industry as a whole then swings into sharp focus. An outstanding example is the reduction of the required sidewall thickness of 55 gallon tight head drums from 18 to 20 gauge, made possible by the efforts of our Metal Drum Subcommittee in cooperation with other groups, and calculated to save industry an estimated $8 million per year. This project is essentially complete and will be marked "closed" as soon as we receive word from the National Classification Board that the three-year probationary period imposed on truck shipments has been successfully negotiated. As a corollary to this project, we are now progressing a similar reduction in the sidewall thickness of 55 gallon open head drums which, if successful, as we anticipate, will add substantially to the savings picture. And it follows that, as drum manufacturing techniques improve, the Committee will lose no time in pushing a study of still further reductions which might be made at no sacrifice of performance and safety. CMA 067927 t l \ cal iy -3- Another example was the successful program, spearheaded by our Fiber Drum Subcommittee, to reduce the sidewall test requirements for fiber drums at specified net weight limits. Adoption of these reduced constructions by the chemical industry has permitted an estimated direct savings of better than $1 million per year in container costs. With the packaging industry now approaching the $19 billion mark, and with the chemical industry accounting for some $1. 5 billion of this figure based on container costs averaging between 4% and 8% of its sales dollar, the Chemical Packaging Committee is well aware of its responsibility to help control these costs, and is constantly on the alert for any opportunity to effect reductions. Popular though the thought of saving money may be, particularly in these times of austerity, there is a third area of responsibility which the Chemical Packaging Committee and its predecessors have always ranked as number one on its deliberations -- safety. The chemical industry is unique in that a high percentage of its products are hazardous to life and property if improperly or carelessly handled. Further, the industry has always recognized and honored a moral responsibility beyond any legal or regulatory requirement to protect those handling its products from any mishap which could have been prevented by proper instruction and adequate packaging. Because of this emphasis on safety, the Chemical Packaging Committee maintains a very close liaison with the Bureau of Explosives, and the Interstate Commerce Commission to ensure, through close cooperation and mutual respect, that the ICC Regulations which specify, among other things, minimum packaging requirements for hazardous commodities, do not deviate from the rigid standards which have proved so successful over the years in safeguarding the public. This record, though admittedly not unblemished, is all the more remarkable when one realizes that the restrictions imposed, though strict and unyielding, were designed to provide adequate safety without unduly hampering the industries which must live with them with unrealistic and impractical requirements. There are literally scores of projects which could be described to illustrate this devotion to safety on the part of the Committee, but I will assume that simply mentioning that we have active Task Groups now working on Dangerous Fluorides, Organic Phosphorus Pesticides, Hydrogen Peroxide, Hydrogen Cyanide, and Reactive Metals will suffice to indicate the broad scope of the Committee's deliberations. By now it is obvious, gentlemen, that in this presentation I have made no attempt to list the many accomplishments of the Chemical Packaging Committee other than a few references to illustrate areas of responsibility. Nor have I included by any means all that might have been said with respect to liaison activities, symposium sponsorships, standardization developments, publication of reports and recommended practices, and many other areas of interest. CMA 067928 -4- I have tried, rather, to express something of the philosophy of packaging and its importance as a corporate function -- the philosophy which motivates the members of the Committee and determines, in large part, their understanding of and approach to the packaging problems and requirements of the chemical industry. Basically, I suppose, this reflects my own feeling that the importance of packaging demands an effective and hard-working Chemical Packaging Com mittee and that the chemical industry should be satisfied with nothing less than a continuing record of major accomplishment by this representative body. I have assumed, and I hope correctly, that you who govern the affairs of the Association are concerned with the broad picture. The details are a matter of record. And that, gentlemen, completes this report of the Chemical Packaging Committee. One further comment is in order. We have been most fortunate in having Mr. Mayhood as Secretary of the Committee, and much of the credit for the advances and accomplishments during those years must go to Charlie for his loyal and competent service on our behalf. A year or so ago you added a new member to your staff, Mr. George Best, who assumed Mr. Mayhood's duties as Secretary of our Committee. George is doing a splendid job for us. We are more than satisfied with the way he has taken hold and slipped into our routine with no disturbance whatever. If you gentlemen continue to supply staff assistance of this high caliber, you need have no concern about the continuing rapid and effective progress of our Committee's efforts to ensure efficient, safe, and economical packaging for the Chemical Industry. Thank you. 1f.CMA 067929 Report of the Labels and Precautionary Information Committee Presented by Chester L. French, Chairman To the MCA Board of Directors - March 14, 1961 Detroit, Michigan The Labels and Precautionary Information Committee, more commonly called the LAPI Committee, is one of 28 technical and functional committees set up by the Manufacturing Chemists1 Association, Inc. It is presently composed of 21 members se lected from member companies and meets on the average of three times a year to carry on the necessary committee business. I have been asked to review briefly for you the committee's major activities and accomplishments and also to describe some of the current projects in which we are engaged. Before doing this, however, I would like to tell you about the conditions which created the need for a committee of this type and also to state the purpose of the committee as outlined in our Rules of Organi zation and Procedure. In the early days of the chemical industry, both the chemi cals distributed and the trades using them were limited in number and each had been long-established. Customers were so familiar with the use of the existing compounds that specific instructions seemed unnecessary and such warning labels as were used on in dustrial chemicals were limited to the stronger acids, alkalies, and extreme poisons. The expansion of the industry and the broadened use of its products brought recognition of the need for more comprehensive labeling and more adequate liability protection. One of the early steps in this direction came in 1934, and covered the uni form precautionary labeling of six products or product groups under a series of voluntary agreements arranged by MCA between the manufacturers of these products and the Surgeon General of the United States. These agreements served a useful purpose until they were discontinued by the United States Public Health Service in 1952, because specific labels for these products had, in the meantime, been developed under our Association's program and were considered more appropriate. As chemical products multiplied and grew more complex, the need for further steps became evident. This was emphasized by a survey conducted by our Association in 1936, which resulted in distribution to member executives of a printed booklet titled, "A Confidential Report on Adequate Labeling--Its Importance to the Chemical Manufacturer." This report persuaded many companies to re-evaluate their product liability protection and to embark upon their own warning label programs or to expand those already begun. CMA 06793 Due to the greatly accelerated growth of our industry during World War II, the important matter of product liability became even more accentuated and the need for a comprehensive program of education in the safe handling of chemicals became obvious. Early in 1944, MCA considered this problem at a meeting of its member executives. It was decided that the best method to reach the han dler or user of chemical products was by means of instruction labels, and the formation of a "Labels and Precautionary Informa tion Committee" was accordingly authorized. The purpose of the committee was then, as it today, to formulate and adopt principles for the preparation of adequate precautionary labels for hazardous chemicals and to promote uniformity in the field of precautionary labeling through a program of education and thorough cooperation with other interested groups and with governmental agencies. The LAPI Committee met for the first time on May 17, 1944. To insure a broad view of the problem, members selected included those with chemical, medical, legal, research, administrative and sales backgrounds. One of the first duties performed by the com mittee after formulation and adoption of general principles for precautionary labeling (in itself no small task) was the prepa ration of a manual titled "Warning Labels--A Guide for tbe Prepa ration of Warning Labels for Hazardous Chemicals." This manual, frequently referred to as the "LAPI Manual," was first published in 1945 and it is through this publication that the work of the LAPI Committee has become well known to industry and administra tors of health and safety programs. Within months after the organization of the LAPI Committee in 1944, its chairman was asked to serve as advisor to the State of California, which subsequently became the first of several states to regulate the precautionary labeling of hazardous chemicals. Besides California, the ensuing years have seen similar laws and/or regulations adopted in many other states, among which are Con necticut, Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, New York State (and City), Oregon and Texas. All have been based upon the MCA principles of uniform precautionary labeling due largely to the efforts of the LAPI Committee. This uniformity is an obvious advantage to the chemical manufacturer who otherwise would have to use different labels in each of the states involved. Following the passage of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act in 1947, Part III was added to the LAPI Manual showing warning labels for pesticides. These labels had the in formal approval of the United States Department of Agriculture and were consistent with its Interpretation 18, Revision 1. CMA 067931 At meetings of the international Labor Organization held in Geneva, Switzerland, the principles governing the MCA precau tionary labeling system were endorsed and we are hopeful that much of the contents of our system may be adopted for ultimate use by the ILO on a world-wide basis. A committee of the International Association of Govern mental Labor Officials, which consists of United States and Canadian State, Provincial, and Federal administrators, has de veloped "A Suggested Draft for Uniform Rules and Regulations re lating to the Labeling for Use, Handling, and Storage of Containers Holding Substances Harmful to the Safety and Health of Employees." This draft adheres to LAPI principles and was the foundation for the current regulations in New Jersey and New York State and City. Further evidence of the LAPI Committee's influence is the fact that definitions for "Poison," substantially identical with those of its manual, were written into the regulations under the Federal Insecticide Act and have also, in the Interstate Commerce Commission Regulations, been substituted for the former definition of "Class B Poisons." LAPI has also been instrumental in obtain ing acceptance of the word, "Flammable," by ICC and other public agencies as less likely to be misunderstood than "Inflammable." Its reputation had extended so far that, in 1953, the Association of British Chemical Manufacturers sent representatives to this country solely to study the LAPI program and subsequently adopted one similar to it. So far I have touched rather briefly on the origin and pur pose of the LAPI Committee, the development of its manual and the extension of the committee's influence in the field of precautionary labeling to the municipal, state, federal and even international levels. Mention should also be made of some of the other educational activities engaged in by the LAPI Committee. One of these is the preparation of precautionary labels for use in the numerous MCA Chemical Safety Data Sheets published by the General Safety Com mittee. In 1957 and 1958 the LAPI Committee sponsored two in dustry conferences on precautionary labeling, in order to bring member firms up to date on industrial and legislative labeling developments. Also, in the past several years, committee members have been active in delivering many papers explaining the MCA system of uniform precautionary labeling to various outside groups. With respect to current projects on which the committee is working, I would like now to discuss the two most important ones, CMA 067932 -4- nainely, the Federal Hazardous Substances Labeling Act and the revision of the LAPI Manual. The Federal Hazardous Substances Labeling Act, passed by Congress in July, 1960, follows closely the MCA principles of uniform precautionary labeling. That it does so, however, is not accidental but is due rather to the soundness and the general ac ceptability of these principles plus a considerable effort on the part of the LAPI Committee in working with representatives of several other associations and with government officials. In September, 1955, it was reported to the LAPI Committee that the Food and Drug Administration felt the Federal Caustic Poison Act was in need of revision and that some initiative along this line should come from industry. As a result, a LAPI Sub committee was established to draft a proposed revision of the Caustic Poison Act. The resulting draft proved very useful later in our conferences with Senator Bush of Connecticut when it was found that he was planning to introduce a Federal Hazardous Arti cles bill in the Senate. This bill, which adhered to MCA principles, died along with similar House bills with the adjournment of the 85th Congress. New Hazardous Substances Labeling bills were introduced in 1959 by the Chairmen of the Senate and House Committees having jurisdiction over this subject. The identical bills, S. 1283 and H. R. 5260, were the result of MCA's cooperation with four other trade associations and federal officials. In addition, representa tives of MCA worked informally with representatives of the American Medical Association in an effort to achieve agreement on legisla tion in this field. Hearings were held in both the Senate and the House on these bills and association witnesses from the LAPI Com mittee testified in support of them. As stated previously, the Federal Hazardous Substances Labeling Act covering the labeling of containers intended or suitable for household use was enacted July 12, 1960, with an effective date of February 1, 1961. On January 31, 1961, FDA issued an order suspending the enforcement provisions of the act until August 1, 1961 except for substances which are highly toxic or liquids that are extremely flammable or flammable. It is expected that regulations pertain ing to the enforcement of the act will be issued sometime prior to August 1, 1961. Representatives of the LAPI Committee and other trade associations have met with FDA officials and offered to assist in the development of regulations but as yet no requests for such CMA 067933 JL -5- assistance have been received. As soon as proposed regulations are issued, the LAPI Committee plans to review them promptly and, if necessary, submit comments to FDA in an effort to obtain regu lations that follow MCA principles as closely as possible. The other project, referred to earlier, which has recently occupied a considerable amount of the LAPI Committee's time, con cerns the revision of the LAPI Manual. Since adoption of the manual in 1945, it has been through four revisions and the fifth revision is currently in the hands of the printer. The need for a new revision of the manual became quite apparent as MCA cooperated with the FDA and others in the develop ment of the new Federal Hazardous Substances Labeling Act. In addition to changes in many label texts, a new definition for hazardous substances was developed, slight changes in the LAPI definitions for poisons were made and provisions for the labeling of sensitizers were set up. Also, it is anticipated that soon there will be a heavier demand than usual for LAPI manuals due to the interest generated by the new Federal Act as well as by the many state laws recently enacted. I understand that the current fourth edition of the manual is completely sold out. The present revision of the manual is probably the most thorough of any yet attempted. A complete review of every product warning label ever considered by the committee was made and was not limited only to those labels appearing in the current edition. Product label summary sheets, containing as complete data as possible on the toxicological and other properties for each chemi cal for which an illustrative label appears in the manual, were obtained where possible and will be filed in the MCA office. Over the years the LAPI manual has earned an enviable repu tation in the field of precautionary labeling. Part I containing the general principles is particularly useful to the novice in precautionary labeling. Parts II and III contain illustrative labels for hazardous chemicals and show minimum requirements recom mended for these products. There is evidence that the MCA il lustrative labels are coming to be regarded by the courts as an accepted standard of care in the field of precautionary labeling. I wish to thank you now for the opportunity of presenting this report on the activities of your Labels and Precautionary Information Committee. Since 1944 this has been an active and continuing committee. Its record is one of which we on the com mittee feel proud and we hope you feel that way, too. As for the I CMA 067934 6- future, the committee will continue in its efforts to promote the MCA principles of adequate and uniform precautionary labeling. In conclusion, I would be remiss if I failed to say that the present membership of the committee cannot take all the credit for its ac complishments and I would like to pay tribute, at this time, to all the former LAPI Committee members who, in the past, labored so long and faithfully in its behalf. I thank you. CMA 067935