REPORT OF THE MEETING OF THE
BOARD OF MANAGEMENT
June 13th, 2003
Antwerp
The following titular Members or deputies were present:
|
AUSTRIA |
Mr. |
Herbert HOFER |
|
BELGIUM |
MM. |
Stéphane Bouckaert, Alfons DUYCK, |
|
DENMARK |
Mr. |
Jorgen DREYER |
|
FRANCE |
Mr. |
Pierre Devineau |
|
GERMANY |
MM. |
Peter BRAUN, Hans KOPSHITZ, Felix Brand, |
|
IRELAND |
Mrs |
Martina Duffy-Motz |
|
Mr. |
Colin O’ CARROLL |
|
|
ITALY |
Mrs |
Francesca RICCI |
|
MM. |
Luca BERTONCINI, Mario GRAZIANI, |
|
|
NETHERLANDS |
MM. |
Mathijs BOLSIUS, Henk OTEMAN |
|
POLAND |
MM. |
Hartmut BOOCK, Lucyna KONCZAL |
|
SWITZERLAND |
Mr. |
Aloïs MULLER |
|
UNITED-KINGDOM |
MM. |
Andrew LEACH, Andrew MORRISSON |
General Secretary
: Mr. Jean-Claude BARSACQThese minutes were approved.
The Committee welcomed Dr Schmidt and Ms Constanze Gillé, who run the European Candle Quality Association.
The Chairman referred to remarks that had been made in the context of the Technical Committee to set up an association in charge of managing a quality system for candles at European level.
Rather than creating an independent association it was considered more effective to benefit from the experience of Gütegemeinschaft Kerzen which has introduced and manages the RAL quality standards.
In these circumstances it was agreed to transform the German association into a European association based in Stuttgart and run by Dr Schmidt.
The Management Committee approved this decision which it shall approve for adoption at the General Meeting.
The Management Committee invites the manufacturers of candles to join the European Candle Quality Association.
Dr Schmidt confirmed that the new European Candle Quality Association was formed in May 2003 on the basis of the existing RAL system, but with a real European approach.
The companies are hereby invited to join this association, in the knowledge that the entrance duties shall not be applied until 1st October 2003. In addition to the entrance duties, the companies must pay a subscription that is proportional to their turnover, which varies from 520 € to 4,100 €.
One of the main initiatives of the Association shall be to promote the European quality brand, which shall necessitate a substantial budget. This procedure must in addition be supported by providing information to consumer associations, which have a very important role.
It was emphasised that it was essential to distribute to the consumers information on the quality signs. The amount of the advertising budget shall be a function of the number of members of the association.
In addition to advertising and public relations another important initiative is to implement a control system with scientifically validated methods. In this regard the RAL system is today recognised and may be used.
Further, contacts shall be made with the European Standardisation Committee (CEN - Comité Européen de Normalisation) to validate the methods that may be proposed for the approval of the ISO.
The Management Committee thanked Dr Schmidt for his intervention and confirmed his agreement that this file should be presented to the General Meeting in order to ensure that all the members of the European Association are in agreement regarding the procedure adopted.
The Technical Committee must finalise a press release which shall be distributed to the members. It shall be the duty of the companies to use this press release, which shall state that the steps taken by European companies not to use wicks treated with lead for candles, produced or marketed by them, are voluntary.
The Management Committee gave the example of the American Association of candle manufacturers which has banned the use of wicks treated with lead in the manufacture of candles since 1995. Nevertheless, candles imported in particular from Asia still contain lead, without the consumer being informed of this.
The American association has also taken steps with the public authorities, and with the distribution networks, to obtain a prohibition on the marketing of candles containing lead in the wicks. This prohibition was decided and shall be effective on 1st October 2003.
This initiative was accompanied by an information campaign benefiting the American association and its relations with the authorities.
In this context it was agreed to ask the General Meeting to ratify the proposal of the Management Committee to prohibit the manufacture and sale of candles containing lead treated wicks.
It is the duty of each national association to ensure observance of this decision by the companies.
With regard to the press release, its use shall be adapted to the local context. It must provide positive information with the emphasis on the concerns of the industry in relation to the health and safety of the consumer.
The technical committee shall carry out its work on this file, on the basis of the guide lines introduced in Finland.
It is intended to receive suppliers as invitees to participate in the work of the Technical Committee.
Furthermore, an amendment of the articles of association shall be envisaged to accept them as associate members in the European association.
Upon request by the Management Committee, Mr. Colin O’Carrol agreed to continue to chair the Technical Committee.
The Management Committee took note of the annual statistics, whilst commenting that all of the national associations have not yet answered.
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