The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) has recently submitted to the White House Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) a final rule to update its Hazard Communication Standard (“HazCom”), which regulates the classification and labeling of hazardous chemicals in the workplace. The rule aims to align the HazCom with the latest version of the
The European Commission is currently seeking public comment as part of its review of the EU General Product Safety Directive (GPSD) (Directive 2001/95/EC).
The GPSD sets out a broad regulatory framework for the placement of non-food consumer products (not regulated by other product specific EU legislation) on the EU market. In particular, it establishes the general safety requirement, that producers must only place safe products on the EU market, and requires that appropriate steps are taken where there are risks to consumers. The GPSD also established the EU Rapid Alert System (Safety Gate), a platform for communication between EU member states and the European Commission on dangerous products. The GPSD must be transposed into the national law of all EU member states, and subsequently there may be some variations between jurisdictions.
Continue Reading Comments sought on review of the EU General Product Safety Directive
The European Commission launched a public consultation on its review of Regulation 347/2013 on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure (the TEN-E Regulation) on 18 May 2020. The public consultation is accompanied by a targeted, more technical consultation aimed at stakeholders with specialist knowledge of the TEN-E Regulation. Both consultations will be open for eight weeks, with submissions due by 13 July 2020.
Background
On 11 December 2019, the European Commission adopted the European Green Deal (the Green Deal), and presented its communication on the Green Deal to the European Parliament. The Green Deal sets out overarching objectives that will inform EU legislation and policy going forward. The objectives include achieving climate neutrality by 2050, mainstreaming sustainability and promoting “nature-based solutions”.
The Green Deal highlights the importance of smart infrastructure in the transition to climate neutrality, and identifies the need to review the regulatory framework for EU energy infrastructure, including the TEN-E Regulation, to ensure consistency with the 2050 climate neutrality objective. The revised framework should also address the policy ambition under the Green Deal of supplying clean, affordable and secure energy by integrating a significant increase in renewable energy in the European energy system, and prioritising energy efficiency.Continue Reading European Commission launches consultation on TEN-E Regulation
The end of the current Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) compliance period (and associated notification by the end date of 5 December 2019) is fast approaching in the UK. The next ESOS compliance period commences on 6 December 2019 and will require companies to assess if they are within scope of the ESOS.
Introduced under the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme Regulations 2014, the ESOS transposes the energy audit requirements from the EU Energy Efficiency Directive (2012/27/EU) into national law, and prescribes mandatory assessment and auditing requirements for large companies (or small or medium-sized companies where they are in a corporate group with a large company).Continue Reading Next ESOS compliance period commencing
The European Commission has recently adopted a range of new mandatory ecodesign obligations, which include ecodesign and energy efficiency requirements for energy related products in the EU, pursuant to the EU Ecodesign Framework Directive (Directive 2009/125/EC).
Continue Reading Introduction of new ecodesign measures for energy related products in the EU