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Hi Mark, It sounds like the SIEFs you're aware of are working OK. This is good to hear. Lawyers at Allen & Overy gave a series of seminars earlier this year which gave the impression you'd need a team of lawyers to stop SIEF members falling out, behaving unscrupulously, and suing each other. It's good to hear their vision may not become
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Will Beacham interviews UK National Skills Academy for Process Industries CEO Phil Jones on training initiatives
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I recently met with Phil Jones, CEO of the UK's National Skills Academy for Process Industries to discuss how his organisation is going to help improve training across the chemical sector. Jones told me the most important initiative being implemented for the chemical sector is the "Skills Passport" which is launching on 1 January 2010
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Companies are supposed to share the cost of testing between SEIF members. It's quite likely the lead registrant will undertake most of the tests as this is usually the biggest producer. There is a potential minefield here for unscrupulous companies overcharging for testing.
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ReachReady this week put out a release warning downstream users of chemicals with the November 2010 deadline that they only have until 30 November 2009 to make their use(s) known to their supplier if they wish the registrant to consider them in the registration dossier. IF you don't do that you may be required to submit your own chemical safety
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Hi Simon, The problem with asking the chemical industry to regulate itself is: who will police it? Is it realistic to expect chemical companies or trade groups to do this? The Global Product Strategy i s an attempt by the industry to assess chemcials and, if necessary, phase them out. But it is voluntary and has no real teeth. We didn't have time
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The next Helsinki Chemicals Forum will be held 20-21 May 2010. I attended the first one last year and it was a fantastic way to meet European chemical industry Reach representatives and SEIF lead registrants from many companies. Their frustration at a lack of access to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) was palpable. I wonder if it will be any different
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Today I found out about a vocational training course which could benefit the chemical sector in the UK. As we're UK-based, we seem to hear about efforts being made in this country mainly. Please let us know about any other similar initiatives, especially in Europe, the US and Asia. The Diploma in Manufacturing and Product Design (MPD) was launched
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Twenty years ago was 1989, just five years after the Bhopal disaster which hit the industry's image globally. I'd say things have improved since then, especially in Europe where the industry has been at pains to clean up its image. But look at the appalling pollution in China and India. There the domestic industry has long way to go. It will
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Our New York based reporter, Doris de Guzman, interviews graduate student Andrew Heidenreich who is currently taking up PhD in polymer science from the University of Akron in Ohio. Hear what he has to say about students in chemistry and his advice on how the chemical industry should encourage today's young generation in entering the science field