Eurobrief March 2010

EDITORIAL The standardisation process: revolution or evolution? March 2010 - The European standardisation process is not perfect, but it works even in the difficult sector of construction products in respect of which it is characteristics dictated by the structure to be built which are to be mandated and standardised. 376 standards and more than 200 ETAs were finalised starting with the harmonised cement standard EN 197.

CEMBUREAU CEMBUREAU publishes position paper on NOx & SO2 trading CEMBUREAU has published a position paper on Entec’s study on NOx & SO2 trading...

EU EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME Concern over free CO2 allowances Free CO2 allowances allocated to a large number of industrial sectors at risk of carbon leakage could undermine incentives to move towards low carbon technologies under the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), a Carbon Trust report suggests. The report claims that many industries named on the EU's list of 164 sectors at risk of carbon leakage are, in fact, unlikely to suffer significant leakage.

CEMBUREAU NOx & SO2 trading: Ecofys/Emission Care study published An independent study by Ecofys/Emission Care (commissioned by CEMBUREAU) has been launched on the consequences which an industrial NOx and SO2 emissions trading scheme (ETS) could have on the European cement sector.

EU EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME Further delays over ETS auctioning rules expected Ongoing disagreements within the European Commission over proposals on the auctioning of carbon allowances from 2013 will most likely lead to further delays in their eventual adoption.

OTHER NEWS Do you speak sustainable construction? Achieving intelligent energy in cities by speaking the same language’ was the theme of the event jointly organised on 24 March by the Architects Council of Europe and the European Concrete Platform, during the EU Sustainable Energy Week.

EU EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME Commission to propose carbon tax on energy The Commission intends to adopt a proposal on a carbon tax on energy use before the summer, following months of internal discussions (see February 2010 Editorial). The purpose for such tax would be to introduce a CO2 element into the 2003 Directive on Taxation of Energy Products and bring it into line with the EU’s climate objectives.

ENVIRONMENT EU strategy for green growth published The Commission published its 2020 strategy for sustainable growth this month, a set of initiatives that replaces the Lisbon strategy.

ENVIRONMENT Environment Committee to vote on Adapting to Climate Change Draft Report Parliament's Environment Committee adopted Rapporteur Vittorio Prodi's Draft Report on the White Paper: 'Adapting to Climate Change' on 16 March 2010 by 49 votes in favour, 3 against and 2 abstentions.

ENVIRONMENT Court of Justice applies 'polluter pays' principle The Court of Justice has ruled that operators with installations located close to a polluted area may be deemed liable for the pollution.

ENVIRONMENT Environment Committee debates IPPC Revision The Council common position for the IPPC recast has suffered a blow at the discussion of the Rapporteur’s draft recommendation for the second reading in Parliament’s Environment Committee on 17 March 2010.

ENVIRONMENT MEP calls for sectoral agreements to tackle Climate Change after Copenhagen failure Parliament’s Environment Committee chairman Jo Leinen (Germany, S&D) has said that the EU should examine alternatives to international climate change talks, in view of the difficulties in reaching agreement under the UN process.

ENVIRONMENT EU's biodiversity campaign online The EU’s new Biodiversity Campaign is now online, with a section covering actions taken to fight biodiversity loss.

HEALTH AND SAFETY REACH Annex V Guidance: all types of clinker and petcoke exempt from registration ECHA has published the Guidance document for Annex V of REACH on its website.

HEALTH AND SAFETY ECHA's 4th stakeholders meeting on 19 May ECHA will organise the fourth stakeholders’ day on 19 May at the Helsinki Exhibition Centre.

HEALTH AND SAFETY Consolidated version of REACH now available A consolidated version of the REACH Regulation is available. It includes the following amendments up to Regulation 552/2009 of 22 June 2009

HEALTH AND SAFETY New IUCLID now available Version 5.2 of the International Uniform Chemical Information Database is now available on the IUCLID website.

HEALTH AND SAFETY REACH review underway According to Art 138 (6) of REACH, the European Commission needs to carry out a review of REACH to assess whether or not the scope needs amending to avoid overlaps between REACH and other Community provisions.

WASTE Rapporteur urges Commission to come forward with new biowaste proposal European Parliament’s Rapporteur on the European Commission’s consultation on biowaste, Jose Manuel Fernandes, has urged the Commission to adopt a new biowaste law, rather than continue to use existing legislation.