ANSI/NAM Network forms work groups to address legislation.
Press Release Summary:
At ASTM International, the ANSI/NAM Network on Chemical Regulation addressed issues pertaining to the June 2008 implementation deadline for the European Union's legislation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). It arranged its organizational structure into 5 work groups, each that prioritized items of concern related to REACH and identified potential action items within its respective area of focus during breakout sessions.
Original Press Release:
ANSI/NAM Network on Chemical Regulation Forms Work Groups to Address REACH Challenges
New York - February 4, 2008
During its second meeting on January 22, 2008, the ANSI/NAM Network on Chemical Regulation took new steps to address the chemical controls and regulations that are affecting U.S. industry. More than seventy representatives from standards developing organizations, government agencies, and industry gathered at ASTM International in West Conshohocken, PA, to focus their attention on issues pertaining to the approaching June 2008 implementation deadline for the European Union's legislation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH).
The second in-person meeting of the Network launched a new organizational structure comprised of five Work Groups (WGs):
Global supply chain
Policy
Standards and conformity assessment
Consortia
Legal and Intellectual Property
During the breakout sessions, each Work Group (WG) prioritized items of concern related to REACH implementation and identified potential action items within its respective area of focus. The individual Work Group findings and suggested next steps were presented and discussed during the general discussion. Active participation by the attendees and valuable subject matter proposals contributed to the success of the full-day meeting.
Many of the concerns and needs identified during the general sessions were shared across industry sectors. Participants agreed that, in order for the U.S. to make significant progress with REACH implementation, industry and government representatives will need to be fully engaged and proactive to develop the new tools and resources, including: tools for compliance and conformity assessment assistance, education and communication awareness for the supplier and consumer, direction on materials that already exist, and processes to avoid duplication of efforts.
Formed in October 2007 by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the Network is an issue-driven forum established to enable U.S. manufacturers and other stakeholders with one voice when addressing domestic, regional, foreign and global chemical regulations.
To learn more about the discussions and action items resulting from the meeting, download the executive summary. For additional information or to join the Network, send an e-mail to chemicals@ansi.org or contact Kathleen Tuohy, ANSI's manager of membership marketing and development (212.642.4928, ktuohy@ansi.org).
