THIS EU REGULATORY UPDATE IS PREPARED FOR THE MEMBERS OF RECHARGE BY LOGOS PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

IT OFFERS A REVIEW OF THE MOST RECENT DEVELOPMENTS WITHIN THE EU INSTITUTIONS OF ISSUES RELATED

TO THE EUROPEAN RECHARGEABLE BATTERY INDUSTRY.

SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC SUBJECT OF CONCERN FOR YOUR ACTIVITY, WE WILL BE PLEASED TO ADD IT

TO THE LIST OF ITEMS UNDER REVIEW.

NB: TO REACH YOUR PRIORITY, CLICK ON ONE OF THE ICON BELOW.

RECHARGE’s EU REGULATORY UPDATE Issue January 2014

1. Batteries

2. WEEE & RoHS

3. Raw Materials & Resource Efficiency

4. REACH and Chemicals

5. Single Market for Green Products

6. Climate and Energy

7. E-mobility

8. Safety

9. European Institutions and Events

Other areas of activities of RECHARGE. 1.The evaluation of Recycling Efficiency of metals and the preparation of Eco-Efficiency Criteria for the metals industries.

2. The Follow-up of the Raw Materials Initiative and the Automotive World Meeting on E-mobility.

3. The preparation of the meeting on Risks and Hazards offered by the collection and recycling of spent batteries 4. The preparation of the Quality Certification Scheme for spent batteries collection and recycling

Batteries

30 January 2014

Batteries in Germany exceed new EU

toxic metal limits

The EU Batteries Directive sets limits for the content of hazardous substances in batteries. The limits for mercury, cadmium and lead in batteries sold in the EU are 5, 20 and 40 milligrams per kilogram respectively, with certain exemptions and labelling

requirements if limits are exceeded. In Germany, the EU Batteries Directive is implemented via the Batteries Act, which came into force in 2009. In this study, researchers surveyed the toxic metal contents of household batteries. The results of a

previous 2007 study showed that all but two of 147 batteries surveyed complied with the old regulations, and the two batteries that were not compliant only exceeded the limit for mercury.

For further reading please see:

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/r

esearch/newsalert/pdf/359na5.pdf

29

January 2014

Breakthrough

in rechargeable batteries: New twist to sodium-ion battery

technology

A Kansas State University engineer has made a breakthrough in rechargeable battery

applications. Gurpreet Singh, assistant professor of mechanical and nuclear engineering, and his student researchers are the first to demonstrate that a composite paper -- made of interleaved molybdenum disulfide and graphene nanosheets -- can be both an active material to efficiently store sodium atoms and a flexible current collector. The newly developed composite paper can be used as a negative electrode in sodium-ion batteries.

For further reading

please see : http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140121093044.htm

24

January

2014

Going with the

flow

There is nothing so expensive, some cynics suspect, as free fuel. It is not that turning

wind and sunlight into electricity is itself that costly, provided you pick the right

places to do it. But it is not reliable. The wind does not always blow, and even in the most cloud-free desert night falls with monotonous regularity. Political commitments to use large quantities of renewables, such as several European countries have made, thus risk the lights going out. The search has therefore been on for a cheap way to store energy transduced from sun and wind when it is plentiful, so that it can be used when it is not.

For further reading

please see:

http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2014/01/giant-batteries

Batteries

21 January 2014

Energy-Dense Sugar Battery Created

'Sugar is a perfect energy storage compound in nature,' Y.H. Percival Zhang said. 'So it's only logical that we try to harness this natural power in an environmentally friendly way to produce a battery.' A Virginia Tech research team has developed a battery that runs on sugar and has an unmatched energy density, a development that could replace conventional batteries with ones that are cheaper, refillable, and

biodegradable.

For further reading please see:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140121093044.htm

15 January

2014

Technology Uses Micro-

Windmills to Recharge Cell Phones

SolarCity officially has a new line of business: installing batteries at companies to shave their electricity bills and provide backup power. The solar company last week

announced a service, called DemandLogic, to install and operate lithium-ion batteries made by Tesla Motors alongside photovoltaic panels. Business customers sign a 10-year contract with monthly fees, rather than purchase the batteries and solar panels up front. SolarCity is also putting combined solar-storage systems at residential buildings in California but has not yet made that offering generally available.

For further reading please see :

http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2317867/will-your-company-be-powered-by-tesla

9 January 2014

Battery powered buses go wireless in

Milton Keynes

Transport Minister Baroness Kramer has today lifted the handbrake on a major new trial of all-electric buses that will be able to recharge as they glide through the streets of Milton Keynes. A number of cities, including Nottingham and London, already run

electric buses in their fleets. But the number 7 route in Milton Keynes will be the first

to be powered by wireless technology, transmitted through charging plates set into the road.

For further reading please see: http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2321823/battery-powered-buses-go-wireless-in-

milton-keynes

WEEE and RoHS

30 January 2014

Dutch bicycle

battery recycling given new focus

Over many decades, the Netherlands has built a reputation as a nation of cyclists. Unsurprisingly, the Dutch are also fanatical users of electric bikes: in recent years, the number of e-bikes has increased rapidly and now totals more than a million. As a

result, the number of discarded bike batteries has grown quickly too. E-bike batteries have to be replaced every two to three years and some 200 000 are discarded annually in the Netherlands. To ensure these do not end up in the environment or in

a landfill, the Dutch Battery Foundation together with manufacturers and importers has now launched a new collection infrastructure and recycling programme.

For further reading please see: http://bit.ly/LrxpjJ

29

January 2014

One-stop shop

targets WEEE efficiency in Europe

Nine of Europe's take-back systems for used electronics have joined forces to form a

one-stop shop in order to make it easier for manufacturers to fulfill their various national waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) recycling requirements from January 2015. Among the members of this new Munich-based platform, named WEEE Europe, are Repic in the UK, Sens Recycling in Switzerland and Wecycle in the Netherlands - all of which are responsible for the national collection and recycling of

electrical and electronic products.

For further reading,

please see: http://bit.ly/1j5l97s

27

January 2014

The

Netherlands WEEE II Regulation (Position Paper)

The Netherlands has recently published a draft regulation which implements Directive

2012/19/EU. The Netherlands WEEE regulation contains certain provisions which are aligned to a guidance document issued by CECED, DIGITALEUROPE, EERA and LightingEurope on measuring all WEEE flows and establishing treatment standards. In this guidance document it is stipulated that in order to demonstrate achievement of the collection rates, all permitted WEEE treatment operators must report on all

WEEE received, regardless of the source or of the contracting party.

For further reading please see: here

WEEE and RoHS

22 January 2014

EU's RoHS scope review consultation

published

A consultation on a review of the EU Directive on the restriction of hazardous substances (RoHS) in electrical and electronic equipment is now open for comments (CW 20 July 2011). The consultation was agreed in the revised Directive that came

into force in 2011 and will be run by the German Öko-Institute for the European Commission.

For further reading, Please see: http://chemicalwatch.com/18113/eus-rohs-scope-review-consultation-published

21 January 2014

Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus close to RoHS

adoption

The Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), including Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus, is expected to adopt a Regulation on the restriction of application of hazardous substances in electronic and radio-electronic equipment in the first quarter of 2014. The Regulation aims to align the bloc with the EU's restriction of hazardous

substances in electronic and electrical equipment (RoHS) Directive. A draft was published in October, and the EEC member states are in the process of ironing out

differences on the scope of restrictions.

For further reading, Please see: http://chemicalwatch.com/18115/russia-kazakhstan-and-belarus-close-to-rohs-adoption

14 January 2014

MEPs call for ban on dangerous plastics

Demand for more restricted substances under RoHS. The European Parliament has called for plastics that have been shown to be most disruptive to human health and the environment to be banned before 2020. In a vote on plastics waste during a plenary session on Tuesday, MEPs backed a resolution calling for the most dangerous plastics to be phased out or banned as soon as possible. These include micro- and

oxo-biodegradable plastics and those that contain heavy metals and other

substances that can also make recycling processes more difficult.

For further reading, Please see: http://chemicalwatch.com/18016/meps-call-for-ban-on-dangerous-plastics

13 January 2014

EU Commission to launch RoHS review

consultation

The European Commission will launch a consultation later this week on a review of the EU Directive on the restriction of hazardous substances (RoHS) in electrical and electronic equipment, as agreed in the revised directive that came into force in 2011.

For further reading, Please see: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/consultations/rohs10_en.htm

WEEE and RoHS

13 January 2014

BIS to review WEEE evidence trading

Reprocessors have warned that a new evidence note trading system for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) will significantly add to their administrative costs. The changes involve the transferring of evidence between

compliance schemes via operators of Approved Authorised Treatment Facilities (AATFs) and came into force on January 1 2014. The operators of the AATFs typically receive WEEE from civic amenity sites on behalf of compliance schemes and often

shred the electrical items for recovery and recycling.

For further reading, Please see: http://www.letsrecycle.com/news/latest-news/weee/bis-to-review-weee-evidence-trading

10 January 2014

UK becomes first in EU to transpose

WEEE directive into national law

In December 2013 the WEEE Regulations 2013 were laid before parliament, and came into force on 1 January 2014. Nigel Harvey, chief executive of leading lighting compliance scheme Recolight, commented on the publication of the WEEE

Regulations: “The UK is the first EU Member State to have transposed the recast WEEE directive into national law”

For further reading, please see: http://bit.ly/KJq3Ib

8 January 2014

RoHS review unlikely to make major scope changes

The European Commission is not planning to make major changes to the RoHS directive on hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) during its review this year. When RoHS was revised in 2011 its scope was extended to all types of EEE, but with a number of exemptions including for PV panels, military

products and fixed industrial machinery. A review of the scope is due by July 2014.

For further reading please see the article in Annex 1. (Article 1, ENDS Europe)

7 January

2014

Portugal defends WEEE

record as collection slumps

The Portuguese government has refuted claims that it failed to achieve the national collection target for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) in 2012

following the release of data pointing to a 28% slump in collection rates. Environment agency APA issued statistics to NGO Quercus last month that showed collection fell from 55,000 tonnes in 2011 to just under 40,000 tonnes in 2012. And per capita rates dropped from 5.3kg to 3.8kg, below the 4kg national target.

For further reading please see the article

in Annex 1. (Article 2, ENDS Europe)

WEEE and RoHS

6 January 2014

Stakeholder consultation on exemptions

from the substance restrictions in

electrical and electronic equipment

In late December, the European Commission launched a Stakeholder consultation on exemptions from the substance restrictions in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS Directive). The consultation refers to exemption request 2013-6 “Lead and

hexavalent chromium in reused spare parts, recovered from industrial monitoring and control instruments placed on the global market before 22 July 2017 and used in category 9 equipment placed on the market before July 22 2024, provided that use

and reuse takes place in auditable closed-loop business-to-business return systems, and that the reuse of parts is notified to the consumer.”

Please click here for more information

3 January

2014

Lower sales cut Irish e-scrap

collections

Collection volumes of Ireland's used electronics fell by 739 tonnes to just over 25 000 tonnes in 2012. This drop mirrors the country’s reduced sales of electronic

goods, according to WEEE Ireland - one of its two approved electronics recycling

companies. In its 2012 environmental report, WEEE Ireland reckons a collection level of 7.65 kg per head of population was reached in 2012 - almost twice the take-back target of 4 kg set by the EU's original Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). WEEE Ireland collected 25 252 tonnes through its territories in 2012.

For further reading, please see:

http://www.recyclinginternational.com/recycling-news/7604/e-waste-and-batteries/ireland/lower-sales-cut-irish-e-scrap-collections

2 January

2014

Question for written answer

E-012510/2013 to the

Commission Rule 117 Francisco Sosa Wagner (NI)

Subject: Recycling of electrical and electronic waste

According to recent studies by European consumer associations, there are still disparities in the implementation of Directive 2008/98/EC of 19 November 2008 on waste and, more worryingly, not only are discarded products not being recycled

satisfactorily but such waste even ends up outside the appropriate channels, causing serious damage to the environment. I have previously drawn the Commission’s attention to recycling problems in Spain (Question E-009625/2011) and given that responsibility for compliance with European legislation lies with national authorities: 1. Has the Commission carried out any studies into the data and reports submitted by Member States in compliance with the aforementioned Directive?

To see the full question and the

Commissioner’s answer, please see: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=WQ&reference=E-2013-012510&language=EN

Raw Materials and Resource Efficiency

29 January 2014

Electronic waste transfer note system goes online

The long-awaited Electronic Duty of Care (Edoc) tool – the online system for recording waste transfer notes – is available to businesses across the UK from today (January 29). Developed by the Environment Agency in partnership with various waste sector bodies, the online portal – www.edoconline.co.uk – seeks to modernise the way waste movements are recorded. Under UK law, all businesses have a Duty of Care to ensure they produce, store, transport and dispose of their waste without

harming the environment.

For further reading, please see:

http://bit.ly/1n792nH

28

January 2014

Ore export ban

pushes nickel higher

Improved demand from the mills has helped to inject some positive movement into

stainless steel scrap prices over recent weeks, according to Recycling International’s latest nickel & stainless steel market analysis. Compared to our early-December report, prices for the 304 grade have climbed to US$ 1400-1450 per tonne while 316 values have extended to US$ 1930-1980. Nickel prices have surged around 8% since news of the ore export ban but some retrenchment is now likely as no shortage is

anticipated in 2014.

For further reading,

please see:

http://bit.ly/1dXZtSq

29 January

2014

Answer to written

question on Charges for collecting

recyclable material

Answer given by Mr Potočnik on behalf of the Commission

Member States are free to choose the best methods of waste management, including separate collection, in line with the provisions of Article 15 of the Directive 2008/98/EC. Charging the public for collecting recyclable materials is normal practice

in several Memer States and does not contravene EU waste legislation. In its communication on a Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe (COM(2011)0571), the Commission stated on page 8 that a combination of policies would help create a full recycling economy, including incentives for waste recycling

For further reading, please see:

http://bit.ly/1ickld7

Raw Materials and

Resource Efficiency

29 January 2014

Answer to written question on

Review of EU waste policy and burden on

SMEs, Anthea McIntyre (ECR)

Answer given by Mr Potočnik on behalf of the Commission As announced in the Regulatory Fitness and Performance (REFIT) Communication, a

specific seminar on waste-related issues was organised by DG ENV with SME's representatives on 16 December 2013 in Brussels, allowing for a fruitful dialogue. The suggestions made by SMEs representatives will be taken into account, where

relevant, in the review of waste policy and legislation. EU waste policy is driving improved waste management in Member States, which results in valuable resources being pumped back into productive use rather than landfilled. This in turn reduces Europe's dependency on increasingly scarce and expensive primary raw materials and enhances economic competitiveness.

For further reading, please see: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-%2f%2fEP%2f%2fTEXT%2bWQ%2bE-2013-013363%2b0%2bDOC%2bXML%2bV0%2f%2fEN&language=EN

28 January 2014

Question for written answer E-013108/2013 to the

Commission Rule 117 Angelika Werthmann (ALDE)

Subject: Radioactive toxic waste in Italy The confession of a former Mafia boss has brought horrifying revelations to light: tonnes of industrial and toxic waste have been buried in Italy. A significant proportion of this is radioactive waste from Germany.

1. Is the Commission considering tightening the rules for the disposal of radioactive waste further and imposing more stringent penalties for improper disposal? 2. What penalties can those responsible expect from the EU?

For further reading, please see: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-%2f%2fEP%2f%2fTEXT%2bWQ%2bE-2013-013108%2b0%2bDOC%2bXML%2bV0%2f%2fEN&language=EN

24 January 2014

'End of waste' criteria vital for circular economy

Declining resources and the need for a circular economy require the EU to establish solid criteria for the use of waste, argues Judith Merkies. This month, the European commission came out with a new proposal that included 'end of waste' (EoW) criteria for compost. This was a triumph, because EoW criteria are essential for a circular economy. The quarrel on the EoW criteria for paper shows that support for this cannot be established overnight.

For further reading, please see: http://bit.ly/1bmRd1O

Raw Materials and

Resource Efficiency

24 January 2014

Committee backs beefed up waste

shipment rules

The European Parliament’s environment committee has backed plans to tighten enforcement of EU waste shipment rules and agreed they should be extended in some areas. The European Commission’s proposed revision of the rules is designed

to address a widespread and lucrative trade in illegal waste. One of its proposals from July 2013 is to require EU member states to draw up annual inspection plans.

For further reading please see the article in Annex 1. (Article

3, ENDS Europe)

22 January

2014

UMICORE : once more

recognised as one of the most sustainable

companies in the world

Umicore ranked ninth on the Global100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World index. Today Umicore achieved the top position in the Materials industry group of the

Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World index. The index is published annually since 2005 by Corporate Knights, an independent media and investment research company based in Toronto, Canada.

For further reading, please see:

http://bit.ly/1dlhTfT

22 January 2014

New industrial processes for the recycling of

critical metals from waste batteries

The CoLaBats initiative works in provide new industrial processes for the recycling of the critical metals Cobalt and Lanthanides and key economic metals Nickel and Lithium, from waste batteries, significantly improving recycling efficiencies and metal

purity from existing recovery routes. Tecnalia will operate the pilots in an industrial setting at battery recycling plants and demonstrated to the wider recycling and battery communities. Primarily Li-ion and NiMH will be targeted using novel task specific ionic liquids (TSILs) to selectively extract the metals.

For further reading, please see: http://bit.ly/1dlg82l

15 January 2014

Reminder: Call for Commitments - European Innovation Partnership (EIP) - Raw

Materials

In order to be successful, the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) needs to involve a very large number of partners across the European Union and the entire raw materials value chain that will carry out actions contributing to the objectives of the EIP. Actions by EU institutions alone will not be sufficient, nor will funding from the EU budget alone. This is why the European Commission is launching an open call for commitments by actors in the private, public and non-governmental sectors including academia.

For further reading, please see: http://bit.ly/1ickMEk

Raw Materials and

Resource Efficiency

15 January 2014

EU move to end use of thin plastic bags

gathers steam

The European Parliament called yesterday (14 January) for a ban on the most hazardous and lightweight plastic bags by 2020, passing a proposal issued by the EU executive Commission late last year.

For further reading, please see: http://bit.ly/1dXYYaV

14 January 2014

ACR+ and DG Environment seek "Green Week 2014 satellite

events" on circular

economy

Be part of a Europe-wide campaign and bring better visibility to your local or regional event on circular economy, resource efficiency and waste by linking it to Green Week 2014! Planning a local or regional event on circular economy this spring? Green Week, the biggest annual conference on European environmental policy, is seeking satellite events being organised in May/June 2014 across Europe to be included in

the campaign.

For further reading, please see: http://bit.ly/1fFewon

10

January 2014

Waste

landfilled dropped below 30m tonnes in 2012

The amount of waste sent to landfill in Great Britain dropped to under 30 million

tonnes for the first time in 2012, according to an annual report by BDS Marketing Research. And, the report found that 20 landfill sites closed that year, bringing the total number that have closed since 2008 to 150. BDS found that FCC Environment was the largest operator of landfill sites in Great Britain.

For further reading,

please see: http://bit.ly/1id66oo

9 January 2014

EU waste consultation results published

The strengthening of EU recycling targets and further restrictions on landfilling won substantial support in a recent European Commission consultation, according to a summary of the results published this week. Last year's consultation on waste management rules also found widespread backing for improved reporting and more common definitions of waste types and treatments across Europe.

For further reading please see the article in Annex 1. (Article 4, ENDS Europe)

6 January 2014

European waste survey

Within the framework of a European project on waste, several public authorities are interested in learning more about Europeans' opinions and behaviour towards waste prevention, recovery and recycling. To this end, we invite you to take part in this

survey:

For further reading, please see: http://bit.ly/KuEb80

REACH

and

Chemicals

31 January 2014

Synchronise IUCLID with exposure

information generated by Chesar

The new version of the IUCLID Report Generator imports exposure assessment information generated in the Chemical safety assessment and reporting tool (Chesar) to the relevant IUCLID sections. The updated plug-in allows users to

report exposure assessment data in IUCLID (sections 3.7.1 and 3.7.2) when Chesar has been used for generating this information. The plug-in assistant will guide you through the various steps necessary for synchronising the data between the two tools and for generating the full chemical safety report.

For further reading, please see: http://echa.europa.eu/view-article/-/journal_content/title/synchronise-iuclid-with-exposure-information-generated-by-chesar

30 January 2014

CEEMET Advocates a Universal

Approach to Chemicals at EU

Level

CEEMET advocates simplifying the existing EU regulatory system for chemical substances so that this results in greater understanding, more consistency and predictability for employers and SMEs who operate in this very complex

regulatory environment. This is a key message in a CEEMET position paper published today.

For further reading, please see here

30 January

2014

Environmental scientists join

anti-TTIP tirade

The Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) could spell an

increase in lawsuits against governments which would not only discourage enforcement of existing environmental regulations, but also diminish the role of environmental scientists, predicts an academic opinion piece.

For further reading, please see:

http://chemicalwatch.com/18212/environmental-scientists-join-anti-ttip-tirade

Published

29 January 2014

Agenda –

Committee established under the REACH Committee - February 20 2014

The Committee established under the Regulation concerning the Registration,

Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) will meet on February 20 2014. Please find any meeting documents and the agenda here.

Please click here to access the draft agenda

REACH

and

Chemicals

27 January 2014

Question for written answer E-000371/2014

to the Commission Rule 117 Bernd

Lange (S&D)

Subject: Lead oxide, lead tetraoxide, tetralead dioxide sulfate and pentalead tetraoxide sulfate under the REACH Regulation

In the course of implementing the REACH Regulation, lead oxide, lead tetraoxide, tetralead dioxide sulfate and pentalead tetraoxide sulfate have been added to the candidates list in accordance with Annex XV. These four substances have been

classified as CMR substances. Hence they are regarded as SVHCs. These substances may now be included in Annex XIV as priority substances, which would mean that specific authorisation would have to be obtained for every application. 1. Is the Commission aware that these four substances are indispensible in the manufacturing of lead-acid batteries, that there are currently no possible

substitutes, and that lead-acid batteries are essential for start-stop systems and hybrid technologies in cars? How does the Commission view this situation?

To read the full question, please see Annex 2 (EP

Question – Lange)

24

January 2014

Draft agenda of

the Working Party on International Environmental Issues meeting

The draft agenda of the Working Party on International Environmental Issues

meeting that will take place on January 29 2014. International Chemicals/Synergies (Rotterdam/Stockholm/Basel Conventions). 1. Roadmap for the work in the chemicals area during the Hellenic Presidency; 2. Seventh session of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals (New York, 6-10 January 2014);

Please click here to

access the draft agenda

23 January 2014

WHO agrees to push for mercury convention implementation

The World Health Organization’s executive board has endorsed a resolution agreeing to help countries address the health-related aspects of the Minamata Convention on Mercury (CW 10 October 2013). The board also called for governments to “promptly sign, ratify and implement” the Convention. The decision was welcomed by NGOs. “Prompt ratification will result in less pollution and human exposure to mercury…”

For further reading, please see: http://chemicalwatch.com/18149/who-agrees-to-push-for-mercury-convention-implementation

REACH

and

Chemicals

22 January 2014

REACH Directors' Contact Group

agrees work to 2018

The EU Directors’ Contact Group (DCG), originally set up to solve registration problems in the run up to the first REACH deadline, has agreed a work plan to take it through to 2018, the final submission date. The group will continue to

work on REACH registration issues, particularly in the area of guidance and information tailored for SMEs and monitor the activity of substance information exchange fora (Siefs).

For further reading, please see: http://chemicalwatch.com/18133/reach-directors-contact-group-agrees-work-to-2018

22 January

2014

Three CLH dossiers

submitted for lead and cadmium

Denmark and Sweden have submitted dossiers for the classification and labelling (CLH) of lead, cadmium dihydroxide and cadmium dinitrate, according to ECHA’s

registry of intentions. Denmark has submitted a CLH dossier for lead, proposing the substance is classified as aquatic acute 1 and aquatic chronic 1. Sweden proposes cadmium dinitrate be classified as a category 1B carcinogen, mutagen and reprotoxin.

For further reading, please see:

http://chemicalwatch.com/18132/three-clh-dossiers-submitted-for-lead-and-cadmium

22

January 2014

Revised ECHA

Consultation Procedure for Guidance

published

ECHA has published a second revision of its Consultation Procedure for Guidance,

as endorsed by the ECHA Management Board at its December 2013 meeting. The Consultation Procedure for Guidance describes how ECHA consults relevant partners on the Guidance it generates and publishes to support the

implementation of legislation within its remit. The updated consultation procedure document now takes full account of the extension of ECHA's guidance activities to include the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR) and the Prior Informed Consent

(PIC) Regulation.

For further reading,

please see: http://echa.europa.eu/view-article/-/journal_content/title/revised-echa-consultation-procedure-for-guidance-published

REACH

and

Chemicals

21 January 2014

UK stakeholder group prepares SME REACH

guidance

The UK Chemicals Stakeholder Forum (UKCSF) has set up a working group to develop easy-to-read REACH guidance documents for small and mid-sized businesses (SMEs). Initially the group is producing a paper on authorisation,

before tackling other aspects of REACH, such as substitution and letter of access fees. The work is in response to a survey conducted by the UK-based manufacturers’ organisation (EEF) of its members.

For further reading, please see: http://chemicalwatch.com/18108/uk-stakeholder-group-prepares-sme-reach-guidance

21

January 2014

Recommendatio

ns on best practice for interaction

during substance evaluation published

The document published today presents recommendations for best practice to aid

open and efficient interaction between the evaluating Member States (eMSCAs) and the registrants. The eMSCAs are recommended to make contact with the concerned registrants shortly after publication of the CoRAP for the first year

substances. Where there are a large number of registrants, eMSCAs should contact the lead registrant in the first instance. Registrants are also encouraged to be proactive.

For further reading,

please see: http://echa.europa.eu/view-article/-/journal_content/title/recommendations-on-best-practice-for-interaction-during-substance-evaluation-published

20

January

2014

ECHA drops

cadmium in

plastics restriction dossier

ECHA will not now submit a proposal to restrict cadmium and its compounds in

plastics, according to the agency's registry of intentions. The Commission asked

ECHA to prepare a restriction dossier in 2012, after its earlier attempt to broaden the existing restriction on the use of cadmium and its compounds from specific to all plastics was subject of a court case.

For further reading,

please see:

http://chemicalwatch.com/18109/echa-drops-cadmium-in-plastics-restriction-dossier

REACH

and

Chemicals

20 January 2014

EFSA consults on hormone-affecting

chemical Bisphenol A

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has invited the public to make online comments about its draft assessment of the chemical compound Bisphenol A (BPA), which is widely suspected by scientists of disrupting the hormone system.

Interested parties such as national risk assessment bodies have until 13 March 2014 to comment on EFSA's review and risk assessments of BPA. The public consultation will be followed up with a stakeholder meeting.

For further reading, please see: http://www.euractiv.com/health/efsa-launches-public-consultatio-news-532841

24 January 2014

Question for written answer E-000103/2014

to the

Commission Rule 117 Marc Tarabella (S&D) and Jean Louis Cottigny (S&D)

Subject: Prohibition of mercury-based manufacturing processes The "Minamata" Convention on the use and emissions of mercury was signed on

10 October 2013. This agreement, which is now open for ratification by the

signatory states, aims to reduce the global level of mercury emissions, which are highly toxic to human health and the environment, but also the production and uses of mercury, particularly in the manufacture of products and as part of industrial processes.

To read the full question, please see Annex 3 (EP

Question Tarabella &

Cottigny)

16 January 2014

Chemicals seem certain to appear in TTIP

It is almost certain that chemicals will appear in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), but the sector could be excluded from the deal “if the EU had real ambitions for its chemical policy,” according to Pieter de Pous,

policy director at the European Environmental Bureau (EEB). Mr de Pous was

speaking after this week’s stakeholder dialogue on the TTIP between European Commission experts and around 150 representatives from public interest organisations and industry groups.

For further reading, please see: http://chemicalwatch.com/18067/chemicals-seem-certain-to-appear-in-ttip

REACH

and

Chemicals

15 January 2014

Majority of evaluated 2010 REACH dossiers

are non-compliant

About 70% of the substance registration dossiers submitted for the REACH 2010 deadline that have been evaluated by ECHA are non-compliant, the agency announced today. The evaluation is part of ECHA’s obligation to check 5% of

dossiers submitted under each tonnage band for compliance with the REACH requirements. The evaluation of the dossiers submitted by 1 December 2010 was concluded at the end of last year.

For further reading, please see: http://chemicalwatch.com/18056/majority-of-evaluated-2010-reach-dossiers-are-non-compliant

15 January 2014

Target met for 5% compliance checks of the

2010 registration dossiers

ECHA has now concluded compliance checks for over 1 000 registration dossiers over 100 tonnes submitted for the first registration deadline. 69% of the evaluated dossiers were found to be non-compliant. Where ECHA has issued the

decision as a result of the compliance check, registrants must provide the requested information so that they can demonstrate their chemicals can be used safely.

For further reading, please see: http://echa.europa.eu/view-article/-/journal_content/title/target-met-for-5-percent-compliance-checks-of-the-2010-registration-dossiers

14 January 2014

Dutch study says REACH authorisation

consultations too short

The eight-week public consultation to submit comments to ECHA on applications for authorisation under REACH could be too short, according to a study published by the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM). Written

in the same time provided for the public consultation, by the consultancy AMEC Environment and Infrastructure last autumn, the report aimed to provide a review of safer alternatives to phthalates that are included on the REACH

authorisation list

For further reading, please see: http://chemicalwatch.com/18038/dutch-study-says-reach-authorisation-consultations-too-short

REACH

and

Chemicals

14 January 2014

European Parliament approves EU

consumer programme

The European Parliament has approved an EU consumer programme until 2020, which includes increased funding for Rapex, the EU rapid alert system for dangerous consumer products, including those containing hazardous chemicals. "After tough negotiations, this programme will see €189m dedicated to improving consumer protection," said centre-right MEP Roberta Metsol. Some of this funding will be used to monitor and enforce safety through EU-wide systems such as

Rapex

For further reading, please see: http://chemicalwatch.com/18017/european-parliament-approves-eu-consumer-programme

15 January 2014

Question for written answer E-014372/2013

to the Commission Rule 117 Hiltrud

Breyer

Subject: REACH: confidentiality in public consultations on the authorisation of chemicals

The question of confidentiality in public consultations for the authorisation of chemicals is important for the implementation of REACH. For example, in the applications for authorisation relating to uses of DEHP and DBP, many relevant

pages are classified as confidential. 1. Can the Commission provide an explanation of and justifications for the confidentiality claims that have been granted, e.g. in the authorisations procedure for DEHP? 2. How does the Commission ensure that sufficient information is published for the public consultations?

To read the full question, please see:

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-%2f%2fEP%2f%2fTEXT%2bWQ%2bE-2013-014372%2b0%2bDOC%2bXML%2bV0%2f%2fEN&language=EN

8

January 2014

European

agency to launch project on chemical mixture toxicity

The EU's Joint Research Centre (JRC) has launched a project on "Toxicity

assessment of combined exposures and chemical mixtures". The project will focus on exploring how in vitro methods and mathematical modelling can be combined to characterise and predict potential toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic interactions of chemicals due to combined exposure or mixture effects, explains Maurice

Whelan, who heads the systems toxicology unit at the JRC's Institute for Health and Consumer Protection.

For further reading,

please see: http://chemicalwatch.com/17884/european-agency-to-launch-project-on-chemical-mixture-toxicity

REACH

and

Chemicals

7 January 2014

Authorisation to use a substance of very high

concern - first opinions adopted

ECHA's scientific committees for Risk Assessment (RAC) and Socio-economic Analysis (SEAC) have adopted their opinions on an application for authorisation to use a substance of very high concern (SVHC). The application, from Rolls-

Royce plc., is for specific uses of DEHP (Bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate) within the manufacture of aero engines. This is the first application for authorisation to use an SVHC to be processed by ECHA.

For further reading, please see: http://echa.europa.eu/addressing-chemicals-of-concern/authorisation/applications-for-authorisation-previous-consultations

6 January

2014

Monitoring impacts of

REACH on

innovation, competitiveness and SMEs

The overarching objective of the study will be to evaluate the changes in the operational conditions and the structure of the chemicals industry and

downstream industries, after the introduction of the REACH Regulation, focusing

on the period 2010–2013.

If you are interested in this call, please

use this link

7 January 2014

Question for written answer E-012550/2013 to the Commission

Rule 117 Åsa

Westlund (S&D)

Subject: Global chemicals panel In their daily lives, people are exposed to a whole range of chemicals. In many cases, there is currently insufficient knowledge to assess the hazard presented by a given substance, for example how human health is affected in the long term.

Work on chemicals legislation needs to be deepened and broadened in Europe.

The revision of REACH, and the future criteria for hormone disrupters, are very important steps in this context, but by no means sufficient. This naturally applies not only in Europe but worldwide.

For further reading please see: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-%2f%2fEP%2f%2fTEXT%2bWQ%2bE-2013-012550%2b0%2bDOC%2bXML%2bV0%2f%2fEN&language=EN

Single

Market

for Green

Products

24 January

2014

EU in joint launch of WTO

negotiations for green goods

agreement

In the margins of the World Economic Forum in Davos the EU, together with 13 other WTO members, today pledged to launch negotiations in the WTO on

liberalising trade in so-called 'green goods'. The initiative builds on the ground-breaking success of the 9th WTO Ministerial in Bali last month.

For further reading, please see:

http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-71_en.htm

23 January

2014

‘Chemical footprint’ in

development

A measure of ‘chemical footprint’ is being developed by researchers to assess the environmental impacts of the toxic chemicals released by the production and consumption of goods. The methodology, based on life cycle and risk assessment, is also designed to be linked to the resilience of ecosystems to

chemical exposure.

For further reading, please see: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/358na6.pdf

14 January

2014

Scientists Develop a More Efficient

and Economical Solar Cell Based On Graphene and Perovskite

The Group of Photovoltaic and Optoelectronic Devices (DFO) at the Universitat Jaume I in Castelló, led by the professor of Applied Physics Juan Bisquert,

together with researchers from the University of Oxford, have created and characterized a photovoltaic device based on a combination of titanium oxide and graphene as charge collector and perovskite as sunlight absorber. The device is manufactured at low temperatures and has a high efficiency

For further reading, please see: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140114090833.htm

Single

Market

for Green

Products

20 December 2013

Evaluation of the Energy Labelling Directive and

certain aspects of the Ecodesign Directive -

additional questions about the use of the primary energy factor

This consultation is part of the review of the Energy Labelling Directive (2010/30/EU Art.14) required by the Directive by 31 December 2014. It also contributes additional information to the required review of the Ecodesign

Directive (2009/125/EC Art. 21). This public consultation, by enabling stakeholders to express their opinions on the various aspects of the Directives, aims to draw upon a wide variety of experience, opinion and ideas. The results

will be used to contribute to a comprehensive and complete analysis of the performance of the Directives to date and how they can be improved in future.

For further reading, please see: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/efficiency/consultations/doc/2013_energy_directive/en_directive2013.pdf

19 December 2013

Material-efficiency for the Ecodesign Methodology

Sustainable industrial policy aims in particular at developing a policy to foster environmental and energy efficient products in the internal market. The Ecodesign Directive 2009/125/EC is the cornerstone of this approach. It establishes a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-

related products with the aim of ensuring the free movement of those products within the internal market. Directive 2009/125/EC repealed the original Directive 2005/32/EC for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-using products.

For further reading, please see: http://meerp-material.eu/

9 January

2014

Question for written answer E-

012643/2013 to the Commission

Rule 117 Andreas Mölzer (NI)

Subject: Energy-saving provisions within the framework of the Ecodesign Directive

On the basis of the Ecodesign Directive, adopted in 2005 and revised (and

expanded to include the issue of energy consumption) in 2009, the comitology committee discusses which appliances consume too much energy and where there is potential for savings.

To see the full question and the

Commissioner’s answer, please see:

http://bit.ly/1aVSGhV

Climate &

Energy

28 January 2014

Foresight on track to complete £150m solar farm

investment

Foresight Group has revealed it is on track to invest £150m in UK solar farms by the end of March, after the company confirmed the first project acquired by its new Solar Fund is already exceeding expectations. Investment firm Foresight

Group completed a £150m initial public offering (IPO) for its Foresight Solar Fund last autumn.

For further reading, please see: http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2325251/foresight-on-track-to-complete-gbp150m-solar-farm-investment

27 January 2014

Denmark signals fight for tougher 2030 climate and

clean energy goals

Copenhagen is preparing a push for stronger EU-wide 2030 climate and energy goals despite tough opposition from states such as the UK and Poland, the Danish climate and energy minister, Martin Lidegaard, has told EurActiv.

Lidegaard said he was “very, very satisfied” that the EU climate and energy package announced in Brussels last week had got Europe’s states to pledge a 40% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

For further reading, please see: http://www.euractiv.com/energy/denmark-signals-fight-tougher-20-news-533025

22 January 2014

EC rules out national renewables targets for 2030

The European Commission has proposed a binding EU renewable energy target of 27% for 2030 that would be met through a new “governance system”, confirming its decision to rule out a continuation of binding national targets. Rumours of this decision had circulated since last week. Wednesday's confirmation will please countries struggling to meet their targets such as the UK

and others including Poland who want greater control of their energy mix.

For further reading please see the article in Annex 1. (Article 5, ENDS Europe)

Climate &

Energy

21 January 2014

January infringements package -

Renewable Energy: Commission refers

Ireland to Court for failing to transpose EU rules

The European Commission is referring Ireland to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to fully transpose the Renewable Energy Directive. The Directive aims at ensuring a 20% share of renewable energy in the EU by 2020.

The Directive had to be transposed by the Member States by 5 December 2010. "It is essential that all the Member States implement the renewable energy legislation. Renewables are vital for the security of supply and European

economic growth. They are key in mitigating global climate change," said Commissioner Oettinger, the EU Energy Commissioner.

For further reading, please see: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-44_en.htm

15 January 2014

Financial innovations spur renewable energy

investment in global markets

Recent financing innovations for solar PV and other sustainable projects show a clear trend for new funding models, tools and practices that are propelling the

renewable energies sector into the mainstream. Financing and investment firms are also integrating climate change into new

financial products. The following three cases from both sides of the Pond exemplify the trend.

For further reading, please see: http://bit.ly/1dY49Yv

14 January 2014

SolarWorld unveils record-setting test module

SolarWorld on Monday unveiled a record-setting 306 W test module at its

research and development facility in Freiberg, Germany, that utilizes a number of new technologies, including second-generation Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell (PERC) innovations.

For further reading: http://bit.ly/Mq70DH

14

January 2014

European

Investment Bank issues major climate bond

The European Investment Bank is seeking to raise 350m Swiss Francs (£237m)

to invest in renewable power and energy efficiency projects, after issuing its first Climate Awareness Bond of the year. The Bank announced the issuance late last week, confirming that it is to be managed by Barclays, Credit Suisse and Deutsche Band. The bond is the first of its kind to be issued in Swiss Francs.

For further reading: http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2322648/european-investment-bank-issues-major-climate-bond

Climate &

Energy

13 January 2014

EPIA backs call for 2030 renewables target

Lobby group the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) has welcomed the call by two committees of the European Parliament for a new renewables commitment, stretching to 2030. The EPIA is calling for the European

Union to commit to a legally binding target of generating 45% of the political bloc's energy from renewables in 16 years' time and estimates 15% of elctrical power generation by that date could come from PV.

For further reading, please see: http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/details/beitrag/epia-backs-call-for-2030-renewables-target_100013922/#ixzz2qUEsYFUm

9 January

2014

MEPs call for three EU binding 2030

targets

MEPs have signalled their support for three EU binding targets for renewables, energy efficiency and emission reductions for the period to 2030. On Thursday,

parliament committees for industry, research and energy (ITRE) and

environment voted by 66 votes to 50 for a “multi-faceted approach… based on mutually reinforcing… policies and ambitious binding targets” in these areas.

For further reading please see the article

in Annex 1. (Article

6, ENDS Europe)

6 January

2014

Eight EU states push for 2030

renewables target

Eight member states including Italy, Germany and France have called on the European Commission to propose a renewable energy target for 2030. Their

voting weight, which amounts to 135 ballots, falls far short of the 260 required for a qualified majority in the EU's Council of Ministers. The other five member states are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland and Portugal.

For further reading please see the article

in Annex 1. (Article 7, ENDS Europe)

E-

mobility

30 January

2014

UK accelerates towards 'electric

car leadership'

The government is to invest more than £9m to boost the number of charging points for electric cars across the UK and will work with manufacturers to accelerate the growing market. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg announced

today that £5.8m will be spent on providing 140 new rapid chargepoints in towns and along major roads to create a nationwide network of 500 chargers, each of which can fully power up an electric car battery in 30 minutes.

For further reading, please see: http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2325976/uk-accelerates-towards-electric-car-leadership

27 January 2014

Renault Sold Over 18,500 Electric Vehicles in 2013

According to the latest preliminary data on Renault EV sales, the French manufacturer ended the year of 2013 with 18,673 electric vehicles sold. Of which ~97% were sold in Europe. Renault’s first model, the Renault Fluence Z.E., noted a huge downfall from low levels in 2012 to rock bottom in 2013 and

recently we learned that production had been halted. Less than 1,000 units were

sold last year.

For further reading, please see:

http://insideevs.com/renault-sold-over-18500-electric-vehicles-in-2013/

27 January

2014

E-Car Club launches first university car-sharing hub

The UK's only electric car club has opened a new operation at the University of Hertfordshire, offering low cost zero-emissions driving to students, staff, and the

local community. Members of the E-Car Club scheme will be able to hire one of three Renault electric cars - two ZOE superminis and a Fluence Z.E. saloon - for £5.50 per hour. Each car has a range of around 90 miles and will be charged in designated parking bays.

For further reading, please see: http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2325036/e-car-club-launches-first-university-car-sharing-hub

23 January 2014

EURELECTRIC signs up to EU-funded project on

electric buses

A strong commitment for cleaner urban transport was demonstrated today with the launch of the Zero Emission Urban Bus System (ZeEUS) project, one of the largest electromobility projects funded by the European Commission. EURELECTRIC is one of 40 partners in the 42-month project, which is funded

under the Commission's 7th Framework Programme.

For further reading, please see: http://www.eurelectric.org/news/2014/eurelectric-signs-up-to-eu-funded-project-on-electric-buses/

E-

mobility

23 January

2014

Electric Cars & Solar: Will They Make Gasoline &

Utilities Obsolete?

Meanwhile, while plug-in electric cars on U.S. roads number less than 200,000 today--out of about 250 million vehicles--the miles they travel on grid energy

stored in their batteries eliminate the demand for gasoline. And many electric-car owners turn out to have solar panels on their homes Buying an electric car may even increase interest in clean energy, as owners start to think about "free travel" using electricity from solar panels (aside from the substantial costs of the panels themselves, of course).

For further reading, please see: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1089876_electric-cars-solar-will-they-make-gasoline-utilities-obsolete

21 January

2014

Tesla, Deutsche Bahn team up on

electric car charging stations

Electric carmaker Tesla Motors and German rail operator Deutsche Bahn opened

four new charging stations along key autobahn routes on Tuesday to help make

electric cars viable for long-distance commuting in the country. Tesla's efforts to build out a network of so-called "supercharger" stations, aims to broaden the appeal of electric cars which have failed to gain widespread acceptance in Germany because of concerns about range and a lack of charging stations that allow for a fast battery top-up.

For further reading, please see:

http://bit.ly/1cN5ztc

20 January 2014

Electric car maker Tesla exceed revenue growth

guidance

US based electric car maker Tesla has reported its sales in the fourth quarter of

2013 were the highest in company history by a significant margin. Tesla has sold

almost 6,900 vehicles exceeded prior guidance by approximately 20%. It has

praised its suppliers for supplying the components meeting demand spikes,

particularly its battery vendor Panasonic. Model S is the star performer among

Tesla's cars. The Model S can travel 480 KMs in a single charge and in 20

minutes the car can be recharged to travel another 200+ KMs.

For further reading, please see: http://www.eeherald.com/section/news/onws20140119004b.html

E-

mobility

17 January

2014

Driving electric in Hamburg

A current project conducted by Oeko-Institut analyses the role that electric vehicles can play in commercial vehicle fleets based on the example of the Hamburg region. Under the project leadership of hySOLUTIONS GmbH and in

cooperation with Alphabet Fuhrparkmanagement GmbH – a provider of vehicles and charging infrastructure – Oeko-Institut’s researchers are assessing how well-suited electric vehicles are for use in commercial fleets.

For further reading, please see: http://www.oeko.de/new/dok/1601.php

17 January 2014

Answer by the Commission to question for written answer Rule 117 by

Charles Tannock

(ECR)

Subject: Carbon efficiency of electric vehicles The Commission has assessed impacts of electric vehicles for example in the

study ‘Impacts of electric vehicles’ published in 2011(1). More recently, the joint Commission-industry ‘Well-to-Wheels’ analysis(2) assessed fuel cycle greenhouse

gas emissions for a wide range of different technologies for comparable cars under the current type approval test. It showed that a current battery electric vehicle (BEV) has CO2 emissions of around 78gCO2eq/km using EU average electricity, while a diesel vehicle emits around 145gCO2eq/km over the full energy life cycle.

To see the full question and answer, please see:

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=WQ&reference=E-2013-013059&language=EN

15 January 2014

Electric Cars: Long-Term Thinking Vs Short-Term Analysis

Are electric cars a risk? Not mechanically, or electrically, or if you're intending to drive a long distance, that is. But from the eyes of a financial trader, looking for a safe place to put their money, the answer is often a cautious "yes". But should it be? One investor writing for The Globe And Mail (via Charged EVs) says not--

and his investment in Tesla is testament to a business he feels will deliver longer-term gains, rather than the short term view many take.

For further reading, please see: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1089661_electric-cars-long-term-thinking-vs-short-term-analysis

14 January 2014

Tesla Recall: Over-The-Air Updates, NEMA Connectors, And More

Every carmaker puts its own interpretation on news, especially at Detroit Auto Show. So it's reasonable for Tesla Motors to cast an NHTSA recall yesterday as an example of its ability to respond swiftly and effectively to update its Model S electric car to make the customer experience even better. The NHTSA recall

(number 14V006000), issued yesterday, applies to 2013 Model S cars "equipped for, and delivered with, certain NEMA 14-50 (240 volt) Universal Mobile

Connector (UMC) adapters."

For further reading, please see: http://bit.ly/MSuu59

E-

mobility

10 January

2014

Commercial electric vehicles

hit landmark

Slovakian commercial electric vehicle pioneer GreenWay claims the two vans it leased to its first customer in May have since travelled further in a six-month period than any other electric vehicles. GreenWay, which supplies fully electric

vans for business-to-business (B2B) customers in return for a monthly fee, says the vans it leased to pharmaceuticals and medical supplies company Med-art travelled an average of 38,502 km – the equivalent of a round-the-world trip – in

six months.

For further reading, please see: http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/details/beitrag/commercial-electric-vehicles-hit-landmark_100013905/#ixzz2qU9rJ7n6

9 January 2014

Battery Development May Extend Range of

Electric Cars

It's known that electric vehicles could travel longer distances before needing to charge and more renewable energy could be saved for a rainy day if lithium-sulfur batteries can just overcome a few technical hurdles. Now, a novel design

for a critical part of the battery has been shown to significantly extend the technology's lifespan, bringing it closer to commercial use.

For further reading, please see: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140109175504.htm

7 January 2014

More Than 35 Million Electric

Vehicles Will be On Roads Worldwide

by 2022

The fast-growing market for electric vehicles (EVs) - including hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and battery electric vehicles - has become a small but important part of the global automotive industry. Governments worldwide are keen to see increasing penetrations of EVs due to the environmental, economic, and energy

security benefits they provide. Click to tweet: According to a new report from

Navigant Research, by 2022 there will be more than 35 million EVs on roads worldwide.

For further reading,

please see: http://www.4-traders.com/news/More-Than-35-Million-Electric-Vehicles-Will-be-On-Roads-Worldwide-by-2022-Forecasts-Navigant-Resear--17761511/

E-

mobility

23 January

2014

EURELECTRIC signs up to EU-

funded project on electric buses

A strong commitment for cleaner urban transport was demonstrated today with the launch of the Zero Emission Urban Bus System (ZeEUS) project, one of the

largest electromobility projects funded by the European Commission. EURELECTRIC is one of 40 partners in the 42-month project, which is funded

under the Commission's 7th Framework Programme.

For further reading, please see:

http://www.eurelectric.org/news/2014/eurelectric-signs-up-to-eu-funded-project-on-electric-buses/

6 January 2014

Electric Car Sales in Germany Plunge in December

Official data on electric cars sales last month in Germany are not optimistic. In December, with the gradual rollout of the Tesla Model S, BMW i3 and VW e-up! all underway, sales somehow fell back to the volume prior to these vehicles appearing (Aug/Sept.). Just 445 units! Is it possible that all three manufacturers

– Tesla, BMW and VW – had some rollout/supply problems or this the true

market size without incentives?

For further reading, please see: http://insideevs.com/electric-car-sales-in-germany-plunge-in-december-year-ends-with-6051-new-registrations/

2 January 2014

Ford Adds Solar Cells to Recharge Electric Concept Car

Ford Motor Co. (F), the second largest U.S. automaker, is showcasing a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle that uses solar panels in the roof to recharge itself. The C-Max Solar Energi will be on display at the 2014 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that begins Jan. 7, the Dearborn, Michigan-based

company said today in a statement.

For further reading, please see: http://bloom.bg/KkTZuy

2 January 2014

Norway's Electric Cars: Already Too Popular?

Is it possible for electric cars to be too popular? Thanks to supportive government policies and relatively short average commuting distances, Norway has become the friendliest place in the world for plug-in cars. Now, there may be too many of them on the country's roads. The country is starting to have more

electric cars than it can handle, according to Quartz (via Charged EVs). Two incentives that promote electric cars--the availability of free public charging stations and the ability of electric-car drivers to use bus lanes--have apparently

become victims of their own success.

For further reading, please see: http://www.greencarre

ports.com/news/1089415_norways-electric-cars-already-too-popular

Safety

14 January 2014

Operations continue at G&P Batteries despite

fire

Battery recycling firm G&P Batteries has reassured clients that operations at its Darlaston plant are continuing as normal today (January 14), after a fire broke out at the facility in the early hours of this morning. West Midlands Fire Service

received a 999 call about a fire at the site at 1:20am, with a total of 10 engines attending the call at its peak. The fire broke out in a stack of lithium batteries, stored in an external area on the site, causing explosions and plumes of smoke which could be seen several miles away.

For further reading, please see: http://www.letsrecycle.com/news/latest-news/batteries/operations-continue-at-g-p-batteries-despite-fire

14

January 2014

Germany launches

annual prize for safer chemical

options

The German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (Bmas) has launched its

annual prize for projects aimed at reducing risks associated with the use of hazardous substances. The €5,000 prize is open to industry, agencies and

individuals. The closing date for applications is 31 March.

For further reading,

please see: http://chemicalwatch.com/17996/germany-launches-annual-prize-for-safer-chemical-options

8

January 2014

Final report on

Boeing 787 battery probe to come in fall

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board said on Wednesday that

investigative work on a battery fire aboard a Japan Airlines (9201.T) Boeing 787 Dreamliner jet in January 2013 would be completed by the end of March. The agency gave no indications about the cause of the fire and said its final report on

the incident at Boston Logan International Airport would be presented at a public meeting in Washington in the fall.

For further reading, please see: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/08/us-boeing-dreamliner-ntsb-idUSBREA070ZN20140108

EU

Institutions

& Events

Chemical Watch Global

Supply Chain Workshop - 11 – 12 March

2014

A unique opportunity to participate in a programme that brings together over twenty-five experts from industry, trade associations and government from around the world. Through

presentations, Q&As, panel discussions and break-out sessions, delegates will hear about the latest supply chain challenges facing organisations. Session 1: Overview of current global supply chain chemicals risk management. Session 2: REACH and CLP Requirements and Impacts. Session 3: Practical Sectoral Examples

For more information, please see:

http://chemicalwatch.com/16978/chemical-control-and-hazard-communication-regulations-conference

ECHA

Stakeholders'

Day - 21 May 2014

The conference offers participants the chance to hear and discuss the latest news and updates from ECHA, European industry associations and NGOs. The annual event covers the REACH and CLP regulations and participants can also attend one-to-one sessions with ECHA staff about

specific topics. Online registration for the conference is now open and will last until Thursday 1 May. Note that places are limited and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. The

conference will be web-streamed live and a recording of the web-stream will be published on ECHA's website within one week after the event.

For more information, please see:

http://echa.europa.eu/view-article/-/journal_content/title/e-news-29-january-2014

Chemical Control and Hazard

Communication Regulations Conference -

11 – 13 February 2014

Practical and business strategies for monitoring, implementing and managing compliance in the EU and across the globe. Informa Life Sciences’ Annual Chemical Control and Hazard Communication Regulations conference will provide you with vital guidance on current and

future chemical regulations including the latest developments in CLP, REACH, GHS and Chemical Control Regulations to ensure you remain compliant.

For more information, please

see:

http://bit.ly/1bjSiV1

EU

Institutions

& Events

Conference on Product Policy

- International Trends in

Ecodesign & Energy labelling - 20 – 21 February 2014

The European Union’s Ecodesign and Energy Labelling directives contribute to the EU's 2020 targets for energy-efficiency and greenhouse gas reductions, via more than 30 implementing regulations. Ecodesign creates a regulatory level playing field for industry in the EU market by

setting minimum harmonised efficiency and performance requirements for products, and contributing to dynamic technological innovations. This opening session will set the scene for the conference, looking back at past achievements, summarising the present situation and outlining the challenges ahead.

For further reading, please see:

http://ec.europa.eu/energy/efficiency/events/2014_conference_ecodesign_energy_labelling_en.htm

The 84th

Geneva International Motor Show - 6 – 16 March 2014

The 84th Geneva International Motor Show will take place at PALEXPO convention center in

Geneva and promises to be one of the most important auto shows of 2014. The 83rd edition of the conference attracted nearly 690,000 participants. It is the only international motor show held annually in Europe to be recognised by OICA (the International Automobile Manufacturers’ Organization), and is ranked among the world’s "Top 5" events in the field.

For further reading,

please see: http://www.salon-auto.ch/en/presse/

Chemicals Update: Q4

2013 - 15 January 2014

Updates on new and changing legislation involving chemicals in products, covering Q4 2013, from around the world. Chemicals covered include brominated flame retardants, phthalates,

mercury, ozone-depleting substances and other chemicals of high concern across a wide range of products from automobiles to cosmetics, toys to electrical products, and furniture to jewellery.

For further reading, please see:

http://www.complianceandrisks.com/webinar-2014-january-chemicals-update-q4-2013/

EU

Institutions

& Events

South-East European Conference &

Exhibition on Waste Management

& Recycling, Environment - 5 – 7 March 2014

Keeping pace with the market trends and demand ‘Save the Planet’ Exhibition encourages the waste and recycling technology transfer to South-East Europe. It will provide participants with a quick market entry and opportunity to meet face-to-face state and municipal representatives

e.g. government officials, mayors, ecologists; branch associations; investors and entrepreneurs; executives from the sectors: waste management, recycling, ecology and related industry branches.

For further reading, please see: http://via-expo.com/en/pages/waste-management-recycling-exhibition

Global Supply

Chain Workshop 11 – 12 March 2014

A unique opportunity to participate in a programme that brings together over twenty-five

experts from industry, trade associations and government from around the world. Through presentations, Q&As, panel discussions and break-out sessions, delegates will hear about the latest supply chain challenges facing organisations - including those supplying the chemical industry, those in the chemical industry together with downstream users.

For further reading,

please see here

Industrial

Technologies 2014 conference - 9 – 11 April

2014

Industrial Technologies 2014 is expected to attract 1,500 visitors from over 50 countries to Athens, Greece, on April 9-11, 2014, including experts, decision-makers and influencers in the fields of nano and biotechnology, advanced materials, and new production technologies. The main topics include: European and global developments in the high-tech arena,

reindustrialisation and regional development in Europe, Technological and entrepreneurial opportunities especially for the Balkan and Mediterranean states, and opportunities in Horizon 2020 in the field of enabling technologies.

More information is available at: http://www.industrialtechnologies2014.eu