EU Legislation, Initiatives, etc.
EU News: Cadmium in jewellery, plastics and brazing sticks will be banned in the EU from December 2011. High levels of the harmful substance cadmium have been found in some jewellery articles, especially in imported imitation jewellery. Consumers including children risked being exposed to cadmium through skin contact or through licking.
The new legislation prohibits the use of cadmium in all types of jewellery products, except for antiques.
The ban also covers cadmium in all plastics & brazing sticks, which are used to join dissimilar materials as fumes that are released during this process are highly dangerous if inhaled.
EU News: The launch of the first 2 operational satellites of the EU's global navigation satellite system will take place on 20 October 2011, the European Commission announced this week.
This is just the first of a series of launches due to take off from Europe's Space Port in Kourou, French Guiana. The launch of the Galileo satellites at an altitude of 23.600km will lead to the provision of initial satellite navigation services in 2014. Successive launches will complete the constellation by 2019.
This is just the first of a series of launches due to take off from Europe's Space Port in Kourou, French Guiana. The launch of the Galileo satellites at an altitude of 23.600km will lead to the provision of initial satellite navigation services in 2014. Successive launches will complete the constellation by 2019.
FSA: The European Commission is organising a selection procedure to replace 7 members of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Management Board whose mandates will expire on 30 June 2012. EFSA is inviting interested parties to apply for the posts.
EU News: New EU telecoms rules to promote a more competitive telecoms sector & better services for customers are due to be implemented in national law by 25th May 2011 (see IP/11/622). This MEMO explains how the new rules will ensure more consistent and effective regulation of competition in EU telecoms markets.
EU News: Every year in Europe, soils covering an area larger than the city of Berlin are lost to urban sprawl and transport infrastructure. This unsustainable trend threatens the availability of fertile soils and groundwater reservoirs for future generations.
A new report made public by the European Commission recommends a three-tiered approach focused on limiting the progression of soil sealing, mitigating its effects and compensating valuable soil losses by action in other areas.
A new report made public by the European Commission recommends a three-tiered approach focused on limiting the progression of soil sealing, mitigating its effects and compensating valuable soil losses by action in other areas.
STFC: British companies are being urged to bid for a share of a billion Euros that are available in contracts on what will be the biggest optical & infrared telescope in the world - the European Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) – See ‘Industry News’ section for more information.
