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1. Sleeping items intended for infants to face new harmonised safety standards
On 21 October 2009, Member State representatives sitting in the EU’s General Product Safety Committee in Brussels gave their thumbs up to the drawing up of new safety standards covering children's sleeping items, including duvets, baby sleeping bags and cot mattresses.
13 Nov 2009
2. Products related to energy-use fall within scope of new ecodesign Directive
On 31 October 2009, the EU’s Official Journal published a new law which is intended to change the way “energy-related” products will be designed, to make them more environmentally friendly.
13 Nov 2009
3. WEEE and RoHS debate creates division among senior legislators: controversy set to delay adoption of new recast Directives
At the Environment Ministers’ Council meeting held in Luxembourg on 21 October 2009, the Member States’ Ministers held a policy debate on the proposed recast of the RoHS and WEEE Directives.
13 Nov 2009
4. Rules amended for imports of eggs and egg products from Chinese mainland
Hong Kong traders who deal in foodstuffs may recall a 2002 Commission Decision (Decision 2002/69/EC, later consolidated with its subsequent amendments under Decision 2002/994/EC), announcing protective testing measures as well as outright bans with regard to products of animal origin from mainland China.
13 Nov 2009
5. Electronic producers told to toughen up on pledges for ecodesign of imaging equipment or face binding measures
On 12 October 2009, a Consultation Forum was held in the framework of Directive 2005/32/EC on ecodesign requirements for energy-using products (the EuP Directive).
30 Oct 2009
6. Rules on toothpaste labelling and use of substances in hair dyes amended due to safety concerns
On 10 and 13 October 2009, two Commission Directives were published in the EU’s Official Journal, amending the law relating to the labelling of toothpaste, and the authorisation of certain ingredients in hair dyes.
30 Oct 2009
7. Two REACH deadlines imminent: one for first-time imports, the other for downstream users
Hong Kong’s exporting community should be alerted to an impending deadline, 30 November 2009, for certain imports of chemicals, preparations and chemical-containing articles entering the EU.
30 Oct 2009
8. Amending law published setting out list of materials and articles permitted to come into contact with foodstuffs
On 20 October 2009, the Official Journal of the EU published Regulation 975/2009 amending Commission Directive 2002/72/EC relating to plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs.
30 Oct 2009
9. EU tries to forge “green goods” duty-free pact between OECD countries and mainland China
Hong Kong traders dealing in environmentally-friendly products or environmental goods will be interested to learn that the EU, together with the United States, is currently negotiating a pact whereby the Chinese mainland and OECD members (including, among others, both the EU and US, as well as Japan, Australia and Canada) would eliminate tariffs on “green goods”.
30 Oct 2009
10. Delays being faced in EU transparency reform for trade defence proceedings
Hong Kong sellers, and especially those which have seen their exports from mainland China being targeted by EU anti-dumping investigations, may already know that the Commission’s Directorate General for Trade (“DG Trade”) has launched a reform of its trade defence procedures, so as to improve transparency in the EU’s trade defence investigations
16 Oct 2009
11. All energy-related products to fall within purview of newly adopted ecodesign Directive
On 24 September 2009, the Council of the EU formally adopted a new ecodesign Directive (recast), following a first-reading agreement, in April 2009, with the European Parliament.
16 Oct 2009
12. Compulsory reduction in personal music player sound levels in sight to protect Europe’s consumers
With up to 10 million European consumers believed to be at risk from permanent hearing damage, the European Commission has issued a mandate to CENELEC, one of the EU’s main standardisation bodies, to devise safe default settings and warnings to consumers for all personal music players.
16 Oct 2009
13. Footwear sellers to comply with new EU-wide classifications for import tariff purposes
On 23 and 29 September 2009, the EU’s Official Journal published two Commission Regulations classifying certain types of footwear so as to harmonise their treatment by the Member States’ customs authorities.
16 Oct 2009
14. Commission introduces new dumping formula; mulls over granting market economy status to mainland China
A changed formula for calculating anti-dumping duties for imports into the EU of Chinese-made magnesia bricks, which may force Hong Kong’s trading community with interests in the mainland to change the way it does business with the EU, has drawn criticism and caused a rift within the European Commission.
2 Oct 2009
15. Laws concerning the labelling and testing of textile fibres in products amended
On 15 September 2009, the EU’s Official Journal published two Commission Directives which Hong Kong’s textile manufacturer-exporters may need to know about.
2 Oct 2009
16. Eco-efficiency drive takes on equipment including computers, printers, fax machines and photocopiers
On 9 October 2009, a Consultation Forum is set to convene under the auspices of the EuP Directive, namely, Directive 2005/32/EC on the ecodesign of energy-using products.
2 Oct 2009
17. EU establishes sectors exposed to “carbon leakage” including those for textiles, clothing, footwear and electronics
On 18 September 2009, EU Member States approved a draft Decision listing 164 industrial sectors and sub-sectors considered to be exposed to “carbon leakage”.
2 Oct 2009
18. Gradual fading of energy inefficient incandescent light bulbs begins
On 1 September 2009, inefficient lamps – described as conventional incandescent bulbs and conventional halogen bulbs – started to be phased out from the EU market.
18 Sept 2009
19. EU Chemicals agency launches public consultation on so-called Substances of Very High Concern
Hong Kong’s business community will likely be interested in the latest public consultation launched on 1 September 2009 under REACH with respect to 15 substances that are proposed to be Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC).
18 Sept 2009
20. Electrical goods laws, RoHS and WEEE, subjected to further revision
On 3 September 2009, the Council of the EU’s secretariat presented Member State delegations with compromise texts for new RoHS and WEEE Directives.
18 Sept 2009
 
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