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Articles by Arthur Rogers
It's Time to Abandon Venezuelan Oil Sanctions
The journey through the Darién Gap’s unforgiving jungle is a harrowing reality for families escaping Venezuela’s chaos. Alone, children face the looming threat of trafficking. Men abandon their families, uncertain if they will ever see them again. These stories are the lived experiences of Venezuelans, compelled to flee by a relentless crisis.
Auction Technology Group PLC Statement re Silicon Valley Bank
Auction Technology (LSE:ATG) Intraday Stock Chart Monday 13 March 2023 TIDMATG RNS Number : 7212S Auction Technology Group PLC 13 March 2023 AUCTION TECHNOLOGY GROUP PLC NO MATERIAL EXPOSURE TO SILICON VALLEY BANK London, United Kingdom, 13 March 2023 - Auction Technology Group plc ("ATG", "the Company", "the Group") (LON: ATG), operator of the world's leading marketplaces for curated online auctions, updates on its financing arrangements.
Pod Point Group Holdings PLC Block Listing Application
Pod Point (LSE:PODP) Intraday Stock Chart Thursday 9 March 2023 TIDMPODP RNS Number : 4810S Pod Point Group Holdings PLC 09 March 2023 9 March 2023 Pod Point Group Holdings plc (the "Company" or "Pod Point") Block Listing Application An application has been made today, to the FCA and the London Stock Exchange respectively, for admission to (i) the premium listing segment of the Official List of the FCA, and (ii) the London Stock Exchange's main market, for a block listing of securities in...
Letter: China travel ban was not what Trump is touting
Letter: China travel ban was not what Trump is touting I was walking on the river walk the other day and overheard another walker passing me say because of Trump’s travel ban on China millions of lives were saved. I went on line and found that no studies indicate travel bans helped stop the spread of the virus once it had infected the country. The ban went into effect almost two weeks after the US got it’s first case.
European Institute of Technology to open in 2010
A flurry of activity in Brussels and Strasbourg has cleared the way for a 2010 launch of the European Institute of Technology (EIT). A 25 February meeting of the European Union’s Competitiveness Council - a gathering that brings together national ministers responsible for industry and research - recommended that the EIT should become operational ’without delay’.
EU extends emissions trading scheme to petrochemicals
Proposals unveiled on 23 January for reform of the EU emissions trading system (ETS) will impact on the chemicals sector by extending the system to hitherto exempted activities and to nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. The changes are part of a package of proposals aimed at achieving a 20 per cent cut in EU greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.
MEPs ratify deal to allow poor nations more access to cheap drugs
Two years of EU brinkmanship came to an end on 24 October when the European Parliament cleared arrangements for giving poor countries access to patent-protected medicines at affordable prices. MEPs belatedly approved EU ratification of a 2005 World Trade Organization protocol on compulsory licensing - potentially paving the way for developing countries to order generic drugs from manufacturers abroad without infringing patent rights.
European ethical guidelines weigh in against mail order genetic tests
The Council of Europe (CoE) has come out against mail-order and over-the-counter genetic tests in new ethical guidelines that seek to address dilemmas faced by health services without hobbling scientific progress towards ’personalised medicine’.
European institute gets green light from MEPs
Arthur Rogers/Strasbourg, France The European Institute of Technology took a faltering step toward becoming a reality on 26 September when the European Parliament gave a preliminary go-ahead for the project. Doubts persist over how the institute will be funded. But already, EU member states are beginning to clamour for the kudos - and cash - they might attract by hosting the EIT governing board.
Stiff drink for Europe's legislators
Arthur Rogers/Strasbourg, France Legislation approved by the European Parliament in June will enhance an intoxicatingly interesting branch of analytical chemistry by introducing legally binding technical standards for around 50 spirit drinks. Detailed rules will cover methods of production and quality standards for the base ingredient, ethanol, including maximum permitted levels of residues of esters, aldehydes and methanol. What’s your poison?
Stiff drink for Europe's legislators
Arthur Rogers/Strasbourg, France Legislation approved by the European Parliament in June will enhance an intoxicatingly interesting branch of analytical chemistry by introducing legally binding technical standards for around 50 spirit drinks. Detailed rules will cover methods of production and quality standards for the base ingredient, ethanol, including maximum permitted levels of residues of esters, aldehydes and methanol. What’s your poison?
Uncertain future for EIT
Arthur Rogers/ Brussels, Belgium Plans for a European Institute of Technology to rival the US Massachusetts Institute of Technology face uncertainty amid fears the EU flagship could be reduced to a virtual university. EU education ministers and MEPs are struggling behind the scenes to settle vital questions.
Uncertain future for Europe's MIT rival
MEPs disagree on European Institute of Technology Plans for a European Institute of Technology to rival the US Massachusetts Institute of Technology face uncertainty amid fears the EU flagship could be reduced to a virtual university. EU education ministers and MEPs are struggling behind the scenes to settle vital questions.
Harmonising pharmaceutical quality worldwide
Arthur Rogers/Strasbourg, France All change at the European Pharmacopoeia, the Strasbourg-based organisation responsible for European pharmaceutical quality standards, and its parent body, the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare (EDQM).
Drug misuse under investigation
Arthur Rogers/Strasbourg, France European drug crime experts have been commissioned by the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly to investigate ways of combating the increased use of ’date rape’ drugs such as Rohypnol. The drugs are used to commit a range of crimes, including robbery. Such drugs are added to drinks without victims noticing, with spiked drinks potentially leaving victims unconscious.
Solidarity in science
Jerzy Buzek helped fight communism in Poland before becoming its prime minister. Arthur Rogers meets this multi-faceted character Few MEPs have a background as extraordinary as that of Jerzy Buzek, the chemical engineering professor who was Poland’s longest-serving prime minister of the post-communist era. In 1997, having been elected to the Sejm, the lower house of the Polish Parliament, Buzek set off for a holiday in Spain.
EU chemicals legislation settled
European Union negotiators announced on 1 December that they had overcome the final hurdles that were holding up new legislation to control the use of chemicals. The breakthrough in late-night discussions between legislators and ministerial officials cleared the way for an EU-wide regulatory regime, known as Reach, to come into force in June 2007. The compromises were approved by the European Parliament in a vote on 13 December, and signed off on 18 December.
Science across frontiers
The European Research Council officially comes to life this month, promising to fund basic research and to move away from an EU focus on multi-centre collaborations. Arthur Rogers finds out more Hurriedly launched at the turn of the year, the European Union’s €50.5 billion (?34 billion) seventh framework research programme (FP7) offers prospects of more funding and a distinct shift in EU research policy, in the form of the European Research Council (ERC).
Reach goes ahead
Arthur Rogers/Strasbourg, France After last-gasp negotiations between ministers and legislators, the European Parliament today gave the go-ahead to the launch of Reach, the European Union regulatory regime for chemicals. Reach breaks new ground by reversing the burden of proof, by requiring industry to demonstrate that substances are acceptably safe, and by introducing systematic screening of thousands of chemicals in everyday use.
EU chemicals legislation settled
European Union negotiators announced on 1 December that they had overcome the final hurdles that were holding up new legislation to control the use of chemicals. The breakthrough in late-night discussions between legislators and ministerial officials should clear the way for an EU-wide regulatory regime, known as Reach, to come into force in 2007.
EU approves ?54 billion science plan
The European Parliament has finally approved the Seventh Framework Research Programme (FP7), which promises to distribute 54 billion (?36.4 billion) of science funding over the next seven years.
Mercury legislation rises then falls
Arthur Rogers/Strasbourg, France Plans for European Union restrictions on mercury have been thrown into confusion by European Parliament moves to exempt small firms that make and repair barometers. British and Dutch MEPs who proposed the exemption argue that these firms typically use recycled mercury, and that the trade serves as a ’knowledge centre for the safe handling of this metal’.
The new world of cosmetovigilance
Arthur Rogers/Strasbourg, France Authorities on both sides of the Atlantic have taken steps to identify health risks from chemicals in cosmetics. In Europe, ministers representing the 46 nations of the Council of Europe (CoE) announced on 10 November plans for a ’cosmetovigilance’ scheme similar to international pharmacovigilance systems that monitor adverse reactions to medicines.
Controversy continues as Reach nears completion
With deadlines looming for final agreement on the planned European Union system of registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals (Reach), the European Parliament’s Environment Committee is pushing for further amendments. Committee members voted on 10 October, reiterating their support for amendments demanded by the Parliament at first reading in November 2005, but resisted to date by a majority of the 25 EU member states.
European PFOS restrictions
Arthur Rogers/Strasbourg, France European Union ministers are collaborating with the European Parliament to secure early restrictions on perfluorooctane sulfonates (PFOS), chlorinated compounds used in applications including surface coatings, photolithography, production of microchips, and certain hydraulic fluids.
Controversy continues as Reach nears completion
With deadlines looming for final agreement on the planned European Union system of registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals (REACH), the European Parliament’s Environment Committee is pushing for further amendments. Committee members voted on 10 October, reiterating their support for amendments demanded by the Parliament at first reading in November, 2005, but resisted to date by a majority of the 25 EU member states.
US firms accuse Reach of raising trade barriers
American industry has warned that upcoming regulation of the European Union chemicals sector is ’likely to cause massive product reformulations, business disruptions and unnecessary barriers to trade’.
Plasticiser debate continues
European commission conclusions on risks posed by phthalate plasticisers have brought mixed reactions. Currently, use of six phthalates is prohibited in toys and childcare items intended for children aged up to three years: diisononyl phthalate (DINP); di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP); dibutyl phthalate (DBP); diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP); di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP); and butylbenzyl phthalate (BBP).
EU-wide carbon capture project
A four-year carbon sequestration project backed by 30 European universities and energy companies will test the viability of CO2 capture as a means of curbing greenhouse gas emissions. The Castor project (CO2 from Capture to Storage), launched on 15 March, is located at a power station, near Esbjerg, Denmark.
EU chemical regulation could save ?150 billion in environment and health costs
Environmental activists have hailed estimates published by the European Commission that its forthcoming chemical regulatory framework could produce environmental benefits worth up to €95 billion (?65 billion) over 25 years. The figures, based on Europe’s forthcoming registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals (Reach), come in addition to a commission estimate of €50 billion (?34 billion) in health cost savings over 30 years projected when the Reach proposal was launched in 2003.
MEPs take a dip at Europe's water resorts
The European Parliament has approved an updated version of its 30-year old Bathing Water Directive designed to protect swimmers and water-sports enthusiasts. The new legislation, to take effect in 2008, will abolish many current sampling requirements. It will concentrate on the most common sources of infection associated with inadequate treatment of sewage: intestinal enterococchi and Escherichia coli.
Business roundup
Industry news Explosion at UK oil terminal Reports of an explosion that tore through an oil storage terminal jointly owned by Total and Texaco could be overlooking significant health risks, says a leading combustion engineer. There were 36 reported casualties, only two of which were serious, and no reported deaths following the blast at the Buncefield terminal, Hertfordshire, UK. But that isn’t the end of the story, said Clifford Jones at the University of Aberdeen.
Update: Reach crosses next hurdle, more to come
As news of the ministerial agreement on Reach filtered through to Strasbourg, where the European Parliament was in session, MEPs reacted with dismay to what they saw as a weakening of the regime. Swedish MEP Lena Ek, spokeswoman on Reach for the Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, said it appeared that all of the Parliament’s major amendments had been rejected by ministers.
Reach crosses next hurdle, more to come
The EU Competitiveness Council today clinched a political agreement on Reach, on the basis of a qualified majority vote. That political agreement must now be turned into a formal ’common position’ running to more than 1000 pages of legislative text, translated into all 20 EU official languages. Given that this recasting exercise is expected to take until the late spring of 2006 to complete, a second reading by the European Parliament is unlikely before summer/early autumn next year.
EU ministers close to agreement on Reach
EU ministers hope to reach a political agreement on the proposed European chemicals policy, Reach (registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals), at their next meeting on 13 December. However, it’s still not clear whether German Chancellor Angela Merkel will go along with either the deal that was already emerging under her predecessor, Chancellor Schroeder, or the version preferred by the European parliament, as set out in the first reading vote by MEPs on 17 November.
Business roundup
European parliament approves Reach The European parliament has secured backing for the long-awaited regulatory regime for Europe’s chemicals industry: registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals (Reach). Reach was today approved in Strasbourg after a marathon vote on 1038 amendments. It was first published by the European Commission in 2003, after five years of preliminary discussions.
European parliament approves Reach
The European parliament has secured backing for a long-awaited regulatory regime for Europe’s chemicals industry: registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals (Reach). Reach was approved in Strasbourg after a marathon vote on 1038 amendments. It was first published by the European Commission in 2003, following five years of preliminary discussions.
EU to advance strategy on climate change
The European Union is aiming for a 25 per cent reduction in EU emissions of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), by 2010. These represent three of the six greenhouse gases covered by the Kyoto protocol. European Parliament and EU environment ministers are currently settling final details of legislation to be enacted early in 2006.
12 September 2005: European boost for paediatric drugs
Legislation approved by the European Parliament on 7 September offers incentives for the development of much needed child-specific medicines in Europe, say experts. Parents have not been alone in feeling anxious when a child falls ill: physicians face difficult choices over medication, since they may be forced to prescribe a drug that has never been tested for paediatric use.
8 July 2005: EU pollution register on its way
The European Environment Agency made a start in 2004, using data that member states must provide under legislation including the Directive on integrated pollution prevention and control. This involved 50 pollutants from industrial activities at 10 000 plants in the then 15 EU states.
EU sets limits for pesticides in food
Judging by the workload facing the new European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), a move to Europe could be a smart decision for scientists looking for long-term job security. Under a decision by the European Parliament, EFSA will begin setting maximum permitted pesticide residue limits (MRLs) for food in 2005, yet another addition to the agency’s burgeoning portfolio.
EU creates united policy to fight fake drugs
Around the world, counterfeit chemicals present a risk to the public, especially when they take the form of fake pharmaceuticals. A new EU directive could go some way to help pharmaceutical companies to enforce their property rights.
Putting a stop to POPs
Global restrictions on bioaccumulative chemicals classed as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) will apply from 17 May 2004, under the terms of the 2001 Stockholm Convention. Negotiated as part of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the convention will now enter into force, thanks to France providing the crucial 50th ratification. The Convention requires parties to ban several pesticides including chlordane and the chemical hexachlorobenzene.
EU Parliament delays agreement on Reach
Any prospects of an early agreement on Reach (Registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals), the proposed new EU regulatory regime for chemicals, have been dashed. The European Parliament scrutiny of environment commissioner Margot Wallstr?m’s controversial Reach draft has now been postponed until after the Euro elections in June. Agreement on a final version of Reach is now unlikely before 2006.
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