The European Commission and the European Chemicals Bureau ("ECB") Working Groups are currently working on preparing a plan of action for the so-called <I>"interim period" </I>before the new chemicals legislation (REACH) will enter into effect. The interim period would run from November 2003 to March 2006 (forecast date for entry into force of the REACH Regulation).

The phthalates DBP, BBP, DEHP, DINP, DNOP and DIDP will be permanently banned for use in toys and childcare articles above 0.1%, despite the positive conclusions reached by extensive risk assessments conducted in the framework of the EU Existing Substances Regulation 793/93. Once adopted, the measure will replace the current temporary ban adopted in the framework of the General Product Safety Directive 2001/95.

On July 27, 2004, the European Parliament Committee for Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI COM) will hold its first meeting under the sixth Parliamentary Term.

Each year, the G-8 Summit brings together leaders of the world's major industrial democracies - Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States - and others from around the world to discuss social, economic, political and security issues of global importance.

The Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System, or "FAPIIS," takes effect on April 22, 2010. Responding to heightened Congressional concerns regarding the performance and integrity of companies receiving federal contracts, FAPIIS is intended to enhance the government’s ability to prevent non-responsible contractors from receiving contract awards.

The European Commission recently issued two documents relating to nanotechnologies, inaugurating a new area of interest and exploring possible future regulation.

The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union have recently adopted Directive 2004/35/EC on environmental liability, which aims to prevent and remedy environmental damage and is based on the <I>"polluter pays" </I>principle

Most commercial arbitrations fall under the Federal Arbitration Act. But some arbitrations are intra-state so they come within the various state arbitration laws.

California's Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003 ("the Act"), established a series of requirements for manufacturers and retailers of electronic products that contain cathode ray tubes ("CRTs") and Liquid Crystal Display ("LCD") panels. When all of these requirements are fully implemented, California will have a comprehensive recycling and disposal program for CRT and LCD products that are sold in California, and will impose European standards banning the sale of CRT and LCD products cont

On April 29, the Commission adopted a Recommendation (Ref.: 2004/394/EC) on the results of the risk evaluation and the risk reduction strategies for 11 <I>"existing substances</I>".

Summarised in this article: Carcinogenic, Mutagenic and Toxic to Reproduction Substances in Products, CO2 Emissions National Allocation Plans, Authorization of GMOs, Environmental Council, Monsanto’s Roundup Ready Corn Advances in EU Regulatory Process, Update on California’s Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003, Summary of Key Dates and Requirements, Penalties for Non-Compliance, Four California Counties Approve Vote on Ban of Biotech Crops, FDA, CBP Issue New Guidance on Prior Notice of Impo

EU ‘social dialogue’ allows self-regulation of employer-employee matters on a host of work-related issues.The industrial minerals business can benefit from this but, argues Ursula Schliessner of Brussels legal firm McKenna, Long & Aldridge, must be willing to come to the table.

H.R. 4520, the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, was signed into law by President Bush on Friday, October 22, 2004. Legislation was needed to repeal the extraterritorial income ("ETI") exclusion that had been ruled an illegal export subsidy by the World Trade Organization and that had caused the European Union to begin imposing punitive tariffs against U.S. exports.

The U.S. enjoys the world’s safest and most bountiful food supply. Securing our food and agriculture against intentional misdeeds is critical to our safety and economy and is becoming a key focus of the nation's homeland security efforts. This article briefly summarizes U.S. food safety law and reviews recent developments in food safety that affect growers, processors, distributors, importers and consumers of food products.

In a non-reinsurance case, a surety on a performance bond sued the public transportation authorities that contracted with the contractor principal.