Concrete Perspectives May 2016
Construction Sector
European Commission proposes anti-subsidy investigation on Chinese steel products
On 13 May, the European Commission launched an anti-subsidy investigation on imports of Chinese hot-rolled flat steel, on which an anti-dumping investigation is already ongoing since February.
The Commission believes that imports under current conditions might cause economic damage to the EU industry. The Commission is committed to make full use of the available trade defence instruments to restore fair trading conditions for the European steel sector, affected by the global production overcapacity.
The Commission has nine months to establish whether conditions to impose provisional countervailing duties are met.
European Commission’s Workshop: Improving the management of construction and demolition waste
On 25 May, the European Commission held a workshop entitled Improving the management of construction and demolition waste. ‘Resource Efficient Use of Mixed Waste’ is a new project of the European Commission, led by BIO by Deloitte in partnership with BRE, ICEDD, VTT, RPS and FCT of NOVA University of Lisbon on the subject. The aim of the workshop was to consult stakeholders and Member States before the final report is prepared.
Pictured speaking: Julio García Burgués (EC, Head of Unit DG Environment)
The workshop discussed the following issues:
- EU targets (backfilling)
- Prevention
- Demolition practices
- Reuse
- Supporting the recycled materials market
- Data quality/ statistics
To read the full article please contact the BIBM Secretariat.
Live from the European Union
Study Energy Union: Key Decisions for the Realisation of a Fully Integrated Energy Market
The European Parliament’s Industry, Research and Energy Committee initiated a study on the Energy Union. The aim of the study is to assess whether, and to what extent, the EU’s internal energy market objectives can effectively and efficiently be reached with the current policies and instruments.
In February 2015 the European Commission introduced the Energy Union package with the aim “to give EU consumers – households and businesses – secure, sustainable, competitive and affordable energy”. One of the most important pillars of the Energy Union is that the electricity and gas markets should function properly and be integrated at the European level.
European Commission presents proposal on Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive
On 13 May 2016 the European Commission proposes changes to the Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive (2004/37/EC) to limit exposure to 13 cancer-causing chemicals at the workplace.
Concretely, the Commission proposes to address exposure to 13 cancer-causing chemicals by including new or amended limit values in the Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive. These limit values set a maximum concentration for the presence of a chemical carcinogen in the workplace air.
Includes in Annex I to the Directive a new entry for “work involving exposure to respirable crystalline silica dust generated by a work process” and set corresponding limit values in Annex III an exposure limit value at 0.1 mg/m3 for respirable fraction.
The Commission states this amendment will protect workers from occupational lung disease particularly those in the construction sector which represents almost 70 % of workers exposed to this chemical.
European Commission – Press Release
European Commission launches Innovation Deals
On 26 May, the European Commission launched Innovation Deals, a new pilot scheme aim to help innovators with promising solutions to environmental issues overcome what they perceive as regulatory challenges to bringing their ideas to market.
The Commission published an open invitation in which it is looking for projects with strong potential to contribute to the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan.
News in brief
Agenda
JUNE
6-7 June 2016
BIBM General Assembly
Birmingham, UK
8 June 2016
CPE General Assembly
Brussels, Belgium
10 June 2016
C2CA demonstration
Hoorn, The Netherlands
15 June 2016
NEPSI Council meeting
Brussels, Belgium
16 June 2016
NEPSI 10th anniversary conference
Brussels, Belgium
23 June 2016
CPE – CPR working group
Brussels, Belgium
24 June
BIM for SMEs
Brussels, Belgium
29 June
CPE Seminar – LCA information and CE-marking
Brussels, Belgium
JULY
5 July 2016
EMA meeting
Brussels, Belgium
6 July 2016
CPE – Sustainability working group
Brussels, Belgium
AUGUST
30 August 2016
BIBM Wastewater engineering group
Brussels, Belgium
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List of Acronyms:
AhG – Ad-hoc Group
CPE – Construction Product Europe
DG GROW – Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs
ECP – European Concrete Platform
EMA – European Masonry Alliance
IPHA – International Pre-stressed Hollowcore Association
TF – Task Force