EU rules on the information provided with chemical products used in the construction sector do not need to be extended to include more information on hazardous ingredients, the European Commission has decided.  The Commission report has concluded that the declarations of performance (DOPs) introduced by the 2011 Construction Products Regulation (CPR) already contain sufficient provisions on...

Non-compliance with environmental laws by member states was more than any other area of EU legislation in 2013, a European Commission report has indicated. A high proportion of EU infringement procedures related to the poor application of environment legislation. These figures include letters of formal notice and reasoned opinions, the two steps taken before a case reaches...

The new ‘Blue Guide’ has been published.  It builds on the on the content of the Guide to the implementation of directives based on the New Approach and the Global Approach (the “Blue Guide”) published back in 2000, but reflects the modernisation brought to the legal framework in the past decade.  This new version of...

The EPA have published a green procurement guidance document to assist the public sector to implement and maintain procedures. Green Public Procurement (GPP) is defined as: “A process whereby public and semi-public authorities meet their needs for goods, services, works and utilities by choosing solutions that have a reduced impact on the environment throughout their life-cycle, as...

The EPA have published new guidance which addresses direct discharges to groundwater from point sources of potential pollution. It supplements the earlier report published by the EPA in 2011 entitled “Guidance on the Authorisation of Discharges to Groundwater” which focused on the technical assessment of indirect discharges to groundwater. The new guidance has the following primary objectives:...

Are you an importer or a formulator of chemical mixtures in Ireland?  Then the newly published CLP Guidance on the ECHA website is a must read to ensure you meet the requirements for the classification of mixtures in accordance with the CLP Regulation ahead of the 1st June 2015 deadline.  From 1 June 2015, the Classification,...

The EPA in collaboration with the Pesticide Control Division of DAFM, Teagasc, six local authorities, Rilta Environmental Limited (a hazardous waste contractor), WEEE Ireland and the European Recycling Platform, delivered a pilot project to determine the nature and extent of on-farm stockpiling of hazardous waste. The project entailed the operation of six bring-centres for farm...

The European Commission has published a consultation document on the quality of drinking water in Europe The aim of this drinking water consultation document is to gather views on the need and the possible range of actions which could be undertaken in order to improve the supply with high quality drinking water. The results of the...

EPA are currently in the final stages of preparing their 2014 Research call. This year’s call will be worth approximately €7 million, split between the Climate, Water and Sustainability pillars. There will also be a seperate Green Enterprise call worth approximately €200,000.  EPA Research Call 2014 Provisional dates: Call opens: 27 June 2014 Applicant Deadline: 5 August...

Forthcoming proposals designed to overhaul European Union waste legislation is scheduled for publication later in 2014 and will review several EU directives, and could introduce new waste targets, with the aim of driving greater resource efficiency in line with the 2011 Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe and the Eco-innovation Action Plan. Among the directives...