Standards of Indian leather high : CLE Chairman

The New Delhi edition of Indian Express, on 5th September 1999, reprinted from 'Lecuir', a French trade magazine, a report alleging that 'Asia-made shoes can cause cancer'. Mohamed Hashim, the Chairman of Council for Leather Exports, expressed his surprise over what he called 'mischievous reports …. appearing in trade news papers with motives less than honorable'.

He pointed out that leather production in India strictly follows the regulations that are put in force in the European Union (EU). Use of PCP (enta chloro phenol) and Azo dyes in leather manufacture, for instance, was banned in India soon after its use was banned in Europe. Recently when a few samples of different types of leather in different stages of production were sent to a reputed laboratory in Germany they confirmed that the leather produced in India is free from harmful substance including Chrome IV. Guided by international organisations including 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 Indian leather manufacturers make sure that Indian leather standards match with any other in the world.

Expressing his regret over the report, he said, CLE will take up this matter with European Union and other relevant International bodies to check publication of such baseless reports which can do great damage to fair practices in International trade.