Security Code - American Chemistry Council

Two Supervisors reviewing Plans with Facility in Background

Security is a top priority for America’s leading chemical producers. Responsible Care^® companies are leaders in chemical security and work closely with federal, state and local authorities to help safeguard our communities.

After September 11, 2001, ACC members took the lead to enhance security against terrorism. Without waiting for government direction, the ACC Board of Directors adopted the Responsible Care^® Security Code in 2002 to further enhance the security of our facilities and our communities. Through the Security Code, ACC member companies have enhanced coordination, conducted training and safety drills, and shared important security information with local emergency response teams.

Implementation of the Security Code is mandatory for all ACC regular members and Responsible Care Partners to further protect the public, our communities and our employees.

The existing Responsible Care Security Code is recognized by local, state and federal governments as a model security program for chemical facilities and other U.S. industries.

The Security Code predates federal security regulations and has served as a model for subsequent regulatory action under the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Chemical Facility Anti-terrorism Standards (CFATS) program.

In addition, through the SAFETY Act, DHS has recognized the Security Code as a Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technology, which provides ACC members and Responsible Care Partners with certain liability protections in the event of a terrorist action at their facilities.

In 2021, the ACC Board of Directors updated the Responsible Care Security Code, with an increased emphasis on addressing cyber-security threats and its links with physical and operating system security. The implementation deadline for the updated Security Code may be adjusted pending SAFETY Act approval.

Under the updated Security Code’s 10 management practices – which address facility, cyber and transportation/value chain security, as well as the security aspects of crisis and emergency planning – companies must conduct comprehensive security vulnerability assessments (SVAs) and implement security enhancements under a strict timeline, using methods approved by nationally recognized security experts.