What is Responsible Distribution®
Responsible Distribution is a management system for the safe handling of chemicals for the chemical distribution industry in Canada. This program is driven by a Code of Practice that has been written and approved by the membership of RDC. It is based on eight guiding principles, that govern member company actions related to all aspects of the distribution of chemicals, chemical products, and chemical services.
Responsibility Matters on the Road
Responsibility Matters in the Community
Responsible Distribution® Code of Practice
As a condition of membership, the member companies of Responsible Distribution Canada are committed to Responsible Distribution®. This Code of Practice governs member company actions to meet the guiding principles as they relate to all aspects of the distribution of chemicals, chemical products, and chemical services.
Why do we need Responsible Distribution?
As Canadians and people around the World become more concerned about the chemicals and the effects on health and the environment, it is imperative that programs such as RD and Responsible Care exist.
The program known as Responsible Distribution is not only a responsible management system, but is an ethic that is intrinsic in all that chemical distributors do. The program is a commitment to be accountable through the life cycle of the product and be socially responsible at all times.
Responsible Distribution Third Party Verification Program
RDC’s members accepted third party verification as a condition of membership in May 1998. The factors that contributed to this decision were:
Continued Stakeholder pressure:
The pressure on the industry from legislators and stakeholders continues to increase. It is essential for us to demonstrate continuous improvements in all aspects of our businesses in the areas of health, safety and environmental management. It is essential to have an independent assessment of these improvements. To that end, RDC’s members made reporting of this data a condition of membership in June 2006.
International trend:
Third party verification is rapidly becoming an international standard. It has been in North America for twenty years, with Canada leading the way globally. Experience shows that where third party verification is mandatory, industry standards are more highly regarded by legislators and other stakeholders.
Commercial Benefits:
For any customer or supplier doing business with a RDC member verified by an independent auditor, they can have comfort in knowing that the business is managed in a responsible manner.
Supply Chain Pressure:
Several major suppliers – Dow, Shell, Solvay, Lyondell, and Exxon to name a few have indicated that they will require their authorized distributors to comply with the Code of Practice.
Independent Third-Party Verification
RDC’s Responsible Distribution® (RD) program is independently verified by Intertek, a leading global assurance, inspection, testing, and certification body.
Intertek has extensive experience working with chemical and ingredient distributors and provides qualified auditors who understand their operational, regulatory, and supply-chain complexities.
Responsible Distribution® Verification Process
The Responsible Distribution® verification program (RD) is structured to support continuous improvement while maintaining a high standard of conformance. New members are provided with up to three years to achieve full conformance with the RD Code of Practice.
During this period the member is required to:
- develop and document policies and procedures aligned with the RD Code of Practice,
- implement and use these systems in their operations, and
- undergo a documentation verification (Phase 1) against the RD Code of Practice.
Once Phase 1 verification is successfully completed, an on-site (Phase 2) verification is conducted to confirm that policies and procedures are being implemented as documented. On-site verifications typically range from one to three days, depending on the size and complexity of the facility.
Following a successful completion of the Phase 2 verification, members enter a three-year verification cycle, which includes both documentation and on-site verifications to ensure ongoing conformance and continual improvement.
