How can new Horizon 2020 circular economy research & innovation projects benefit from the experience of existing projects funded under different EU programmes? On 8 December 2015 EASME organised a kick-off & networking meeting for 21 waste-related research & innovation projects to help them share their knowledge and explore synergies. The meeting marked the official...

ECOS have been appointed to provide technical support services to SMILE Resource Exchange for the Southern Waste Management Region.  We look forward to working closely with SMILE and our counterparts in the East & Midlands and Connaught & Ulster waste management regions. SMILE Resource Exchange is a free service for businesses which: Encourages the exchanging of...

Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) is the establishment or validation of environmental technology performance by qualified third parties based on test data generated through testing using established protocols or specific requirements. The European Commission launched a voluntary scheme for ETV on an experimental basis: the EU ETV pilot programme. The programme is intended for innovative technologies...

To support innovation, especially by SMEs, ECHA has published an update to its Guidance on Scientific Research and Development (SR&D) and Product and Process Orientated Research and Development (PPORD) simultaneously with a new Guidance in a nutshell on the same subject. The REACH Regulation aims to ensure “a high level of protection of human health...

ECHA has published translations of the the updated Guidance for downstream users into 22 EU languages. The update addresses the need to provide more and up to date guidance on The application of scaling when checking whether a downstream user’s use of a substance is covered by the supplier’s exposure scenario The communication of information on the...

ECOS Environmental Consultants were pleased to hear that the European Parliament have voted in favour of new rules to improve the safety of consumer products circulating in the EU’s internal market – including those imported from outside the EU – and to step-up market surveillance concerning all non-food products. It is intended that this will contribute...

The Irish Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has produced an information sheet which outlines the key responsibilities for EU importers of chemical substances and mixtures under the REACH, CLP and Rotterdam Regulations, for which the HSA is the relevant Competent Authority in Ireland. Import means the physical introduction into the customs territory of the EU....

Chemicals intended for ‘product and process orientated research and development (PPORD)’ can be exempted from the obligation to register for five years. Chemicals used in scientific development related to product and process innovation or further development of a substance may fall under the PPORDs definition. However, a substance used in a PPORD activity must not...

What is blue energy?  Blue energy – or ocean energy – covers all technologies to harvest the renewable energy of our seas and oceans other than offshore wind (a Communication on offshore wind energy has already been adopted in 2008). Ocean energy can be harvested in many forms:  Wave energy depends on wave height, speed, length,...