industry information > civil air transport > environmental legislation

REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation (and Restriction) of Chemicals) is a new regime for the regulation of chemicals throughout the EU. Under this legislation the majority of chemicals that are used in manufacturing processes will have to be registered with a central European agency based in Finland. The UK Authority with responsibility for REACH is the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), who have set up an interim helpdesk - 0845 408 9575.

The regulation applies to all substances that are manufactured or imported into the EU in quantities exceeding 1 tonne per legal entity per annum. However, certain chemicals are exempt such as polymers, intermediates in chemical processes, pharmaceuticals, R&D substances and waste.

REACH requires information about chemicals to be passed up the supply chain via chemical safety data sheets. It is highly likely that this legislation will impact on the overwhelming majority of SBAC members.

REACH briefing for SBAC members (245.1 KB)

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) recently ran a consultation on measures to reduce carbon emissions in the UK. It is seeking to encourage a reduction in energy use emissions of 1.2 million tonnes of carbon (MtC) per year by 2020.

The measures are aimed at organisations with electricity consumption higher than 3,000 MWh, at current energy prices this would capture organisations with annual electricity bills in excess of £250,000.

The aim is to capture a wide variety of organisations that are currently excluded from the existing climate change agreements or the EU emissions trading scheme. If you believe you will be affected by these proposals please complete the SBAC questionnaire.

	Summary of DEFRA proposals on measures to reduce carbon emissions (65.0 KB)
	SBAC response to Energy Performance Committment consultation (70.8 KB)

Update on EU environmental legislation: RoHS

The Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS) affects SBAC members as its purpose is to harmonise the laws of Member States on restrictions in the use of hazardous substances, including lead, cadmium, mercury and hexavalent chromium, PBEs and PBDEs. SBAC has raised concerns with the Commission that the blanket prohibitions within RoHS could affect the airworthiness of aerospace components. At a meeting of the EU's Technical Advisory Committee on the 19 April 2005 an opinion was given that: 'Equipment that is specifically designed to be installed in airplanes, boats and other means of transport is considered to fall outside the scope of the RoHS Directive.'

In addition, the Commission's advice through their Frequently Asked Questions document on WEEE and RoHS states:

"The opinion of the Commission is that excluded from the scope of the RoHS Directive is the equipment which part of another type of equipment that does not fall within the scope of this Directive. Therefore, equipment that is specifically designed to be installed in airplanes, boats and other means of transport (including satellites) is considered to fall outside the scope of the RoHS Directive."

The commission's FAQs can be accessed here

SBAC RoHS Directive amendment submission

SBAC responded to the EU consultation on adaptation to scientific and technical progress under Directive 2002/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment for the purpose of a possible amendment of the annex.

SBAC's submission was put together with the contribution of members who have direct practical experience of the importance of lead, mercury, cadmium and hexavalent chromium (CR-VI) to the safe functioning of important aircraft, components and equipment.

SBAC RoHS Amendment submission (64.7 KB)