eu environmental legislation: views of the european commerce sector christel davidson, environment...
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EU ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION:
VIEWS OF THE EUROPEAN COMMERCE SECTOR
Christel Davidson, Environment Adviser
www.eurocommerce.be
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What is EuroCommerce
• EuroCommerce was founded in 1993
• Represents the retail, wholesale and international trade sector
• More than 100 members:
– national trade associations from 29 countries– individual companies – European and national sectorial trade
associations
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Federations & Companies
EuroCommerce represents a unique mix of companies - from world leading international companies all the way down to the corner shop
NCHC
SESME
VOSZ
Reál Hungária
NRZHIU
Svensk Handel
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Commerce in the EU
• 11% of EU GDP; • 6 millions enterprises, 95% of these are
small enterprises; • Interface between industry and the 493
million consumers across Europe• Providing jobs for 30 million people from all
parts of society
“A thriving sector bringing Wealth to the European Economy”
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Our mission
• To promote the common interests of a sector vis-à-vis the EU institutions
• To lobby throughout the legislative process
• To educate EU decision makers to the impact of future legislation
• To provide timely and comprehensive information to members of the federation
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Horizontal strategic subjects for commerce
• Image of commerce• Competitiveness• Better regulation• Service to consumers
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The organisation
• Corporate Social Responsibility
• Enlargement• Environment and Logistics • Fiscal Affairs • Food Law
• Information and Communication Technologies
• Internal market and consumer protection
• International Trade• Payment systems• Social Affairs• SMEs
Their work is consensus based
Board & Steering committee: political level Policy Committees: technical level
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EuroCommerce and the Environment
• Environment and Logistics Committee– 3 working groups
•Stores and Buildings•Products •Logistics
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The Brussels scene
European Parliament785 MEPs
- adopts legislation
-proposes
EU Commission
Council27 Member States- adopts legislation
Federations (EuroCommerce),
NGOs,lobbyists, etc.
Press+/- 3.000journalists
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Competence and Influence
European Commission
- European Parliament- Council of Ministers
Legislation
EurocommerceEuroCommerce National Lobby
Companies
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Why is it important to be present ?
Influence EU legislation – Directives and Regulations before adoption
• Early information: - what is discussed today in Brussels will impact on your activities tomorrow
• Open decision makers to “real life” cases: - concrete and practical examples improve the quality of legislation (important in particular for companies, e.g. own-brand-products)
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Communication Tools
• Position Papers (bilateral meetings, consultations, stakeholder meetings etc.)
• Flash
• MEP-Newsletter
• Annual Report
• Press release
• Manifesto
• www.eurocommerce.be (extranet for members)
• CEO Newsletter
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Everybody should get involved
Thai businesses can and should also lobby and influence the EU decision-makers directly or by means of: – associations– Thai Permanent Representation to
the EU
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Commerce and EU Environmental Legislation
• Environmental Legislation >200 Directives, Regulations etc. covering all areas (waste, nature conservation, products policy etc.)
• Always more legislation, always more complex leading to contradictory and conflicting messages e.g. anti-dumping duties on energy efficient light bulbs
• Does not take into account the realities of the supply chain (timeframes etc.)
• More and more pressure on retailers
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Implications for Thai companies
• More pressure put on our suppliers– stricter rules need to be met– late warning resulting in adaptation
periods being very short– better control of the supply chain – more controls
• Important for companies to be well-informed on what is happening and what lies ahead for them
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REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of
Chemicals)
• Substances in articles (affected as importers (I), producers (P) of own-brand products)
• Only representative
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Substances in articles: registration
• Registration of all substances present in articles produced and/or imported:
– in quantities above 1 tonne per year
AND
– which are intended to be released
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Substances in articles: registration
• Normally, but not necessarily I, P, will decide which articles have intended release
• Suppliers to provide information on the composition of the article they sell us i.e. the name (CAS-Number) of the substances intended to be released, as well as the quantities of all the substances present in the article which are intended to be released
• I, P, will calculate if 1t threshold is attained. If yes, pre-register before 1 Dec. 2008
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Substances in articles: notification
• Notification of all substances of very high concern (svhc) contained in articles:– in quantities above 1 tonne per yearAND– present in a concentration above 0.1%
weight by weight
• 1st candidate list – probably early 2009 (substances CMRs, PBT, vPvB)
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Substances in articles: notification
• Suppliers of articles to inform I, P, if svhc contained in articles in concentration >0,1 % (w/w)
• Minimum info. to provide: – name of substance – information allowing the safe use of the article in
a format understandable to the final user • Suppliers to be up to date on contents of the list • Notification to start on 1 June 2010 then at the
latest 6 months after a new substance has been added to the list
• Importers may ask for more information (information to consumer requirements, replacing svhc etc.)
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Areas of concern
• Definition of intended to be released vs preparation
• Definition of 0.1 % whole article but some member states are challenging this
• Notification vs information flow discrepancies
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Only Representative
• As of 30 November 2008, all chemicals entering the EU market must be pre-registered. If not you may no longer be allowed to sell your products on the EU market.
• Pre-registration by your EU customers • Alternative is to appoint an O.R. is an EU-based
legal entity appointed by you, who in charge of carrying out registration for non-EU manufacturers
• Commission recently clarified that the 1t thresholds applies to each individual company
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Next steps
• All the work is now at company level• EuroCommerce members have been
encouraged to raise-awareness among their suppliers
• Identify all preparation and articles with intended release
• Suppliers to provide necessary information to their customers – ensure that they will be pre-registered
• Prepare to pre-register – deadline 30 Nov. 2008• Start keeping an eye opened for candidate list
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WEEE directive
• Internet consultation
• Relevant elements for the commerce sector– producer responsibility– scope of the directive
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What are we asking for?
• Clear definition of producer and distributor• Placing on EU market rather than national
territory• Harmonisation of financial responsibilities,
frequencies and formats of reporting, registering and making information available
• List or products falling under the scope of the directive
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Eco-design of Energy Using Product Directive
• Suppliers will have to comply with new requirements - non-compliant products will not be allowed on the EU market
• Deadlines could be very short• Non-energy products could soon be
targeted• Important to get involved in preparatory
studies
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Conclusion
• More and more environmental constraints on businesses
• Need to anticipate, hence the importance of monitoring EU legislation
• Special attention to SMEs
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Thank you for your attention !
Christel Davidson, Environment Adviser
Contact:Ave. Des Nerviens 9-31
1040 BrusselsEmail: [email protected]
Tel. +32 737.05.90
EuroCommerceThe voice of commerce in Brussels