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Search Results for: South Africa

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ASIAN PAINT REGULATORY ROUND UP – INDONESIAN EXTERIOR PAINT STILL USES LEAD, WARNS WORLD BANK

25th Nov 2024

A World Bank study released in October revealed that 58% of Indonesian households with visible interior paint still use products containing lead, posing significant health risks, especially to children under five. An estimated 10.2 million young Indonesian children live in homes with lead-based paint, with 14% of them at heightened risk from deteriorating paint conditions, according to the report.

It said 77% of popular paint brands on sale in Indonesia exceed safe lead levels, contributing to long-term health issues such as reduced IQ, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular problems.

The country’s industry ministry denied the report’s claims, stating that Indonesia’s decorative paints meet national standards, which limit lead content to below 90 parts per million (ppm), in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations.

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ASIAN PAINT REGULATORY ROUND UP – CHINA CRITICISES EUROPEAN TITANIUM DIOXIDE ANTI-DUMPING DUTY

21st Aug 2024

The China National Coatings Industry Association has complained that a European Union (EU) anti-dumping investigation into Chinese exports of titanium dioxide have sparked anti-dumping tariff rates far higher than expected. The provisional anti-dumping rates announced by the European Commission in July were 39.7% for the Longbai Group, 14.4% for Anhui Jinxing Titanium Dioxide Group, 35% for other responding companies, and 39.7% for other non-responding companies.

The China Coatings Industry Association warned that if this tax rate is implemented, it will seriously affect the exports of Chinese titanium dioxide companies and the future development of the industry.

https://www.chinacoatingnet.com/news/show.php?itemid=11589

*The Indonesian Paint Manufacturers Association (APCI – Asosiasi Produsen Cat di Indonesia) has worked with the government to launch a high school programme, promoting and explaining paint technology.

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ASIAN PAINT REGULATORY ROUND UP – VIETNAM EXPANDS IMPORT SAFETY CONTROLS TO ALL CHEMICAL INPUTS

21st May 2024

Vietnam’s ministry of industry and trade (MOIT) has released a draft amendment to the country’s Law on Chemicals. The draft amendment stipulates that all chemicals, including paint and coating ingredients, must be declared when imported through Vietnam’s National Single Window Information Portal.

Under current regulations, only certain chemicals must be declared when imported, leading to the possibility of many dangerous and toxic chemicals imported into Vietnam. The MOIT explained that this weakness was especially relevant for new chemicals imported into Vietnam for the first time, impeding the government’s ability to update the list of chemicals that must be declared, hindering the identification of new chemicals, needed to apply management and safety procedures.

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A DOG'S LIFE IN TUNISIA

14th Mar 2023

Campaigns to end the cruel practice of shooting stray animals by municipalities in Tunisia are struggling in the face of a weak government and a downwardly spiralling economy.

Dogs have a troubled life in Tunisia. While in some neighbourhoods pet ownership has become more popular, as evidenced by the proliferation of new pet stores, these areas give an illusion that Tunisia is generally a dog-loving society. In reality, there is a much darker side of life for dogs in this country, where pedigree pooches are stolen for resale on the black market or females are made to breed puppies for profit, yet it is the native breeds that suffer the worst treatment.…

ASIAN PAINT REGULATORY ROUND UP - INDINESIA NEW CAPITAL PROJECT GATHERS STEAM WITH MAJOR PAINT AND COATINGS SALES POTENTIAL

24th Feb 2023

As construction ramps up, paint and coatings companies are eyeing lucrative opportunities in Indonesia's new capital Nusantara, with several recent project launches promising a significant boost to the industry. Outgoing President Joko Widodo recently inaugurated several key projects in Nusantara, including the emerging city's international airport, hospitals, schools and housing.

Several ongoing projects promise to further fuel the demand for coatings including a new presidential palace, the parliament building and smart city infrastructure.

Nusantara’s focus on sustainability presents a unique opportunity for eco-friendly coatings, the government has stressed. It has mandated the use of green building materials, including paints with low volatile organic compounds and recycled content.

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UK-GERMANY NEUCONNECT INTERCONNECTOR COULD PROVIDE MODEL FOR CHEAP CLEAN ENERGY DISTRIBUTION

30th Sep 2022

In late-July, the European Investment Bank (EIB) agreed on the financing structure of NeuConnect, the first ever energy link connecting Germany and the United Kingdom, two of the largest electricity markets in Europe.

The investment to build the interconnector will amount to EUR2.8 billion, with the EIB set to contribute up to EUR400 million for the financing construction of the section within the European Union (EU). Other financiers include the UK Infrastructure Bank, which will focus on the stretch within UK maritime and land territory, and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).…

INTERNATIONAL REGULATORY ROUND UP – GREENWASHING WILL BE KEY TARGET OF ISSB

17th Feb 2022

The first chair of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) has said a key goal of the creation of global sustainability standards in financial reporting will be fighting greenwashing, where companies make false claims about the environmental benefits delivered by their products and services.…

HALAL FOOTWEAR COULD BECOME SIGNIFICANT NICHE MARKET IN EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA

16th Feb 2022

At a time when footwear companies are moving to tap high-quality and high-added value segments and niche markets, such as vegan shoes, attention is now turning to the sales potential being offered for sales of footwear that is halal-certified in wealthy non-Muslim majority markets such as Europe and north America.…

UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF AML/CFT BEING ASSESSED BY FATF – BUT MORE WORK IS NEEDED, SAY EXPERTS

15th Feb 2022

It would be surprising if as complex an intergovernmental programme as AML/CFT did not spark unintended consequences, but some AML/CFT experts fear that the global system designed and promoted by FATF has caused unwanted and damaging actions that cut across its stated goal – to fight and prevent money laundering.…

UNIVERSITY WORLD NEWS - AFRICA ANGOLA EXPANDS AND UPGRADES ITS HIGHER EDUCATION AS DEMAND FOR COURSES OUTSTRIPS SUPPLY

6th Feb 2022

The Angolan government has been pushing ahead with to expand the countries higher education services – with initiatives progressing this year in its public and private wings. A new private university was inaugurated in October, with the government planning to build a new university hospital this year and major expansions being completed in two public universities.…