European Commission

MEDICAL DEVICES Deferment of MDR adopted by European Parliament / Smooth functioning of EU market is vital during Covid-19 outbreak	23.04.2020
RECYCLING Waste management considered essential in Covid-19 pandemic / Germany's bvse calls for interest-free loans for recyclers / Unrestricted EU waste flows urgently needed	21.04.2020
CEFIC European chemical producers set up Covid-19 helpdesk / Industry group calls for easing of restrictions on trade of essential products	16.04.2020
EU PLASTICS STRATEGY EuPC calls for single-use plastics directive postponement in face of Covid-19 / Hygienic consequences of banning SUPs not taken into account, say Dangis and Zelcher	09.04.2020
MEDICAL PLASTICS China donates coronavirus supplies to EU / Testing kits and 2 million masks delivered to Italy	07.04.2020
STRATASYS Coalition ramps up face shields output in response to Covid-19 / Designers called on to develop 3D-printed ventilators	07.04.2020
MEDICAL DEVICES EU commission postpones MDR application / Shortages in getting devices certified "not an option right now" with Covid-19	06.04.2020
PLASTIC PACKAGING European science academies join forces to study plastics chain / EUBP sees bioplastics criticisms as mainly emotional	31.03.2020
MEDICAL PLASTICS EU commission may postpone implementing medical device regulation / Free access to European standards for medical supplies to boost production	30.03.2020
3D PRINTING Cecimo calls on additive manufacturers to aid hospitals / Need for critical equipment during Covid-19 outbreak	30.03.2020
LOGISTICS EU guidance for implementing “green lanes” to ease internal transport of goods / Major disruptions at some borders due to Covid-19	26.03.2020
ECHA Extension of REACH compliance deadlines during coronavirus situation / Aid in securing disinfectant supply promised	24.03.2020
SPAIN Government plans tax on single-use plastic packaging	23.03.2020
ITALY Nationwide lockdown abruptly halts activity / Domo's PA 6 production still running / FCA shuts down Italian, Polish and Serbian production sites / Aid for SMEs affected by Covid-19	17.03.2020
CELANESE Full-year sales down 12% / Net earnings dip 29% / Engineered Materials operating profit declines	16.03.2020
CIRCULAR ECONOMY EU sets out action plan for more sustainable products and less packaging waste / Plastics a major target	13.03.2020
PLASTICS RECYCLING EUROPE "European Plastics Pact" launches / Targets include better life cycle management of packaging and disposables / EuPC sees difficulties and refuses to join	09.03.2020
SABIC Saudi group lifts Clariant stake to 31.5% / Leading role in specialities targeted / Swiss group's CEO search continues	09.03.2020
GLASS FIBRE PRODUCTS EU competition authorities impose punitive tariffs on products from Egypt / Jushi again directly affected	04.03.2020
SAUDI ARAMCO EU greenlights takeover of Sabic	03.03.2020
PLASTICS PROCESSING GERMANY Not a good year for the industry / Technical parts show a marked decline / Only construction sector reported a rise / Willingness to invest expected to fall / Stable turnover in 2020 would be optimistic	02.03.2020
TITANIUM DIOXIDE EU carcinogenic classification of powder form to apply from September 2021 / TDMA critical of ambiguities in the regulatory text	24.02.2020
ALPLA Envicco JV with PTT Global finalised / Recycling plant due online in late 2021	24.02.2020
PET Over 300 attendees at latest Petcore Europe conference / Agreement that EU's SUP directive focuses too much on plastics	18.02.2020
PVC RECYCLING EU plenary also turns thumbs down on amended lead rules / VinylPlus and EuPC warns	14.02.2020