..."It is not surprising to see that regulation is concerning chemical CEOs. The European Regulation, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH) will have a considerable impact not only on EU chemical manufacturers, but the global chemical landscape," said Volker Fitzner, global chemicals advisory leader, PricewaterhouseCoopers. "With most business functions likely to be affected by REACH, the regulation will also alter the intra- and inter-company supply and value chain and thus influence the profitability of companies even beyond the pure chemicals' players."... more...

...Many companies mistakenly believe that REACH will apply only to chemical products and importers but in reality this is far from the case. While the new regulation will be particularly relevant to these sectors, other organisations operating in industrial manufacturing, automotive and even consumer goods/retail may well have obligations to fulfil.... more...

...Product compliance requirements, largely regulated by government agencies to help ensure quality and safety, have long been a factor in the design, manufacture and sale of goods and services. While environmental regulations themselves are not new to industry, they historically have been associated more with manufacturing plants than with products themselves. But this has changed dramatically in recent years. Green technology is here to stay.... more...

...The EU's Registration Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (Reach) puts the onus on businesses to demonstrate that the chemicals it uses in its products are safe. Any chemicals used will have to be registered with a new EU regulator. While the food industry lobbied hard to gain exemptions for certain ingredients, some of the products they use will still be covered by Reach, including packaging and cleaning chemicals... more...

...SAN JOSE, Calif., May 21 /PRNewswire/ -- SEMI today announced details for its European Union Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH) Webcast. Targeted at SEMI members, equipment and materials manufacturers, and companies that import products into Europe, the Webcast is designed to help affected companies better understand if and how REACH will impact their businesses, as well as what the first steps will be.... more...

...Pioneering companies and university researchers have developed novel was to manage energy demand, lower manufacturing costs and improve reuse and recycling, and making plastics less of a burden on the world's ecosystems.... more...

...A Byzantine piece of legislation coming out of the EU with the aim of monitoring the use of chemicals and ensuring public and environmental safety will impact on everyone, not just the chemical industry.... more...

...Hoping to build on work done in Europe and Canada, the administration of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has launched a "green chemistry" initiative that could transform the way California regulates hazardous materials. The idea behind the program is to control chemicals at the front end of the manufacturing process rather than trying to capture waste at the back end _ or clean up chemical messes when the waste is not contained. The project's reach could extend from subsidizing research and development of new, safer chemicals to banning products found to be hazardous.... more...

...The Scientific Advisory Committee of the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) has announced the validation of five new "in-vitro" tests set to drastically reduce live animal testing and in some cases eliminate it altogether. . . . . The validation of the new testing methods couldn't have come at a better time. From June 1 the EU Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH), will require manufacturers, importers, distributors and marketers to assess and register chemicals under their new, stricter legislation which, until now, would have relied heavily on animal testing.... more...