WEI General Assembly 2021
Dear Member,
The unprecedented and worrying times are continuing for many. We start seeing relaxation of travel restrictions across many member states, however, the worry of another peak and spreading of new variants across Europe remain a concern for medical experts.
Although preparations for an excellent programme for delegates and partners were underway, the WEI Executive Committee has decided unanimously to postpone any future physical events until September 2022.
Vaccinations are well underway across Europe but we nevertheless see variants of the virus surge in many countries. Some of them have thus started to implement severe restrictions again (especially in the hotel, restaurant, and catering sector). Therefore, the Executive Committee feels that timing is not yet right to organise a networking event with around 80 participants.
However, as we are determined to support our members in any way we can, we have decided to organize a ‘Spring meeting style’ meeting in Brussels on 9 September. We will also make sure that those who do not yet want to travel will be able to the meeting via online tools.
Stay tuned for more information.
If there is anything WEI can do to help you during this time, do not hesitate to get in touch. We remain very much open for business, by phone, email or across the internet.
With our best regards
WEI Webinar IED/BREF – 23 March 2021
Following the success of our recent BPR webinar, WEI has arranged our next webinar for the Tuesday 23th March 2021 at 10h30 CET to introduce members to:
IED Best Available Techniques (BAT) Reference Document on Surface Treatment Using Organic Solvents including Preservation of Wood and Wood Products with Chemicals (WPC)
Our speakers will be Willie Clason – WEI Convenor Regulatory Affairs and Dr. Chris Coggins – EWPM (both represented our sector in the EIPPCB technical working group in Seville). The webinar will be for one hour when the new WPC BREF will be introduced and Best Available Conclusions explained.
This webinar will be of interest to WEI members who are responsible for treatment installation permitting under the scope of the Industrial Emissions Directive. Members whose capacity falls outside the IED BREF are also welcome as Chris and Willie will also be launching our European Code of Practice (2021) for the safe design and operation of treatment installations.
Register via: Register for the IED-BREF webinar on 23 March 2021
Public Consultation on Creosote
ECHA has recently announced a public consultation on derogation to the exclusion criteria for PT08 Active – Creosote with a deadline 30th March 2021.
WEI’s Regulatory Affairs WG has prepared and submitted a position paper (see attached). WEI’s position is unchanged since the December 2019 public consultation and WEI recommends that creosote be authorised for the purposes of treatment of REACH Annex XVII (Regulation 552/2009) permitted uses for which authorisation is sought for a further 5 years with a further review after that time.
We urge WEI stakeholders to participate in this consultation either via your National Association or as an individual or business. This will be the final public consultation ahead of the Biocidal Products Committee’s decision to renew the approval of creosote as a PT08 active substance by 30th October 2021.
WEI will organise a webinar on Monday 19 April where Creosote Council Europe will present to update members on BPR Approval and authorisation process for the purposes of treatment of REACH Annex XVII (Regulation 552/2009) permitted uses for which authorisation is sought.
EU’s Renovation wave
Background information: After the publication of the Strategy in October by the European Commission, the Council of the EU, chaired by the Portuguese presidency, is planning to adopt its conclusions on 22 June 2021. The Portuguese Presidency is already working on draft Conclusions by gathering inputs from Member States. Preparatory discussions and consultations will be held within the Energy Working Parties on 4 March, 15 March and 30 March 2021.
CEI-Bois, of which WEI is a member, has started to meet the Permanent Representations of Member States in Brussels in order to convey the key requests of the wood sector:
The Renovation Wave should not just focus on the energy consumed by buildings, but should also recognise the potential of the existing European housing stock and wider built environment to become a ‘new’ carbon sink, as already mentioned by President von der Leyen. Emissions of GHG gases are not only linked to the operational energy use of a building. The materials added during renovation or new construction also cause CO2 emissions during their production, use and end of life phase. The potential to reduce emissions over the lifecycle and stock carbon in renovation works by using wood should be assessed at EU level.
Wood prefabricated solutions also offer modular possibilities to redesign and modernise buildings in a non-invasive way, for example through additional storeys or roof extensions, and overall offer the possibility to “build back better” or repurpose buildings after the Covid-19 crisis.
According to the Portuguese presidency, the Council conclusions will mention three aspects of the renovation wave: the social pillar (with a focus on energy poverty and possibly an extensive definition of “renovation”), the economic pillar, the energy pillar. They also mean to emphasize the importance of circular and sustainable materials, and the link with the 2050 and 2030 decarbonisation goals.
The Renovation Wave Strategy is available HERE
For reminder the Joint CEI-Bois/EOS/EPF/EFBWW/FEP Position Paper is available HERE. WEI AGENDA 23 March – IED BREF Training session 19 April – 14h00 – Webinar on Creosote 19 April – 15h30 – Executive Committee meeting (via MS Teams, invitations to follow)
WEI AGENDA
- 23 March – IED BREF Training session
- 19 April – 14h00 – Webinar on Creosote
19 April – 15h30 – Executive Committee meeting (via MS Teams, invitations to follow)