Arch Chemicals' Rochester, NY, Plant Receives Responsible Care RC 14001 Certification

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Arch Chemicals' Rochester, NY, Plant Receives Responsible Care RC 14001 Certification

Second Plant in America to Earn Prestigious New Quality Standard

NORWALK, CONNECTICUT, Dec. 24 -/E-Wire/Business Wire/-- Arch Chemicals' manufacturing plant in Rochester, New York, which makes industrial biocides, ingredients for cosmetic and personal care products and an advanced wood preservative, has become one of the first plants in America to be certified under the new Responsible Care(R) RC 14001 standard that broadly covers performance in the realms of environmental quality, workplace health and safety, plant security and community outreach.

The plant received this certification after a rigorous series of audits by ABS Quality Evaluations, an independent registrar based in Houston. Using standards developed by the Registrars Accreditation Board, auditors from ABS examined the Arch Rochester plant's management systems and related quality controls in all seven performance areas covered under the American Chemistry Council's signature Responsible Care(R) initiative: employee health and safety, pollution prevention, manufacturing process safety, security, distribution safety, product stewardship and community awareness and emergency response.

This marks the second plant in America to be certified under this exacting quality standard, which was first awarded in 2002 to BASF's plant in Wyandotte, Michigan. Closely modeled on the international quality standards developed by the International Organization of Standardization, the new RC 14001 standard is a major step towards creating a system of independent, third-party verification of performance under all areas encompassed by the comprehensive Responsible Care(R) initiative. This is in contrast to the traditional ISO approach, which has separate standards for environmental quality controls, safety, production quality and other individual performance elements.

"We at Arch are very proud that our Rochester plant has helped pioneer the RC 14001 certification process," said Chairman, President and CEO Michael E. Campbell. "Our neighbors and the world-class customers and industries that we serve increasingly want to see evidence that suppliers like Arch not only can produce high quality products, but can do so in a safe, secure and environmentally sound manner. This new, comprehensive RC certification provides that proof."

"This is a major victory for each and every employee at Arch Rochester," said Ron Erickson, plant manager. "They have proven that, despite our relatively small size, we have what it takes to earn this world-class certification, and in so doing we have charted a path forward for the rest of the global chemical industry. I'd also like to thank the members of our Community Advisory Panel, whose ideas and observations helped propel this achievement."

Arch's 15-acre Rochester plant, which employs 140 people, is one of the key manufacturing centers for Arch Chemicals' Treatment Products business segment. The plant's zinc pyrithione is the most widely used active antidandruff agent in the world, and the plant provides other specialized ingredients for leading cosmetic and toiletry companies worldwide. In addition, the plant's biocides are used in interior paints and building products to deter the growth of mold and mildew, which are often cited as the major cause of the Sick Building Syndrome. The plant this summer also began production of Wolman(R) E, an advanced, copper azole wood preservative. In addition to the RC 14001 certification, the Rochester plant also has earned certifications under the ISO 14001:1996 environmental quality standard and the ISO 9001:2000 production quality standard.

Headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut, Arch Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE: ARJ) is a global specialty chemicals company with approximately $1 billion in annual sales. Together with its subsidiaries, Arch has 3,000 employees and manufacturing facilities in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. Arch and its subsidiaries have leadership positions in three segments -- Treatment Products, Microelectronic Materials and Performance Products -- and they serve leading customers in these markets with forward-looking solutions to meet their chemical needs. For more information, visit Arch's Web site at www.archchemicals.com.

Arch Chemicals, Inc.

Investors: Mark E. Faford, [REDACTED-PHONE]

Press: Dale N. Walter, [REDACTED-PHONE]

http://www.archchemicals.com

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