1st Annual Progress Report of Flame Retardant Voluntary Emissions Control Action Programme

UK Pilot Programme achieves 75 percent reduction in emissions to water by textilesindustry Programme launched in five other EU Member States and on target to cover 90percent of Deca-BDE usage in the EU by June 2007 79 percent and 48 percent of Deca-BDE usage for textiles and plastics,respectively, in the six EU Member States already signed up to voluntaryprogrammeThe brominated flame retardant industry has launched a 1st Annual Progress Report for itsVoluntary Emissions Control Action Programme (VECAP). This report aims to introduceVECAP to a wide range of audiences, including regulatory authorities, user industries andthe general public, and is designed to provide transparent and concise information on theprogress of the VECAP in Europe. Feedback or comments on the report are welcome.The focus of the VECAP is currently on the flame retardant Deca-BDE, but the industryintends to build on the experience gained with this substance and expand VECAP-typeprogrammes to other brominated flame retardants and outside Europe.The Programme was initiated by the industry in 2004 following conclusion of a 10-year EUrisk assessment of Deca-BDE. Though the risk assessment concluded that no additionalrisk reductions measures were required, the industry recognized that its ownenvironmental monitoring had demonstrated the potential for low but increasing levels ofDeca-BDE near industrial user sites. VECAP, combined with an industry commitment tocarry out a 10-year programme of environmental monitoring, represents the brominatedflame retardant industry?s commitment to reduce to the greatest degree practical thepotential for Deca-BDE emissions to the environment.As part of a standard annual review, national officials from the European Union assessedprogress on Deca-BDE in a meeting on 24 May in Vienna. During that meeting, there wassignificant support for this industry's voluntary emissions reduction programme and theprogress achieved to date.For a copy of the VECAP Annual Progress Report, click on:http://www.bsef.com/uploads/news/2006_vecap_annual_progress_report.pdf