Industry News

2008 Sector Strategies Performance Report Recognizes Paint and Coatings Sector's Environmental Strides
October 31, 2008
The recently published U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 2008 Sector Strategies Performance Report favorably profiles the environmental strides made by the paint and coatings industry, as part of the agency's Sector Strategies Program, which the NPCA participates in on behalf of the industry.

CCSB Adopts New Classification Rate for Paint and Related Materials
October 31, 2008
On Oct. 21, the Commodities Classification Standards Board (CCSB) adopted a new classification scheme for paint and related materials, after several years of NCPA and its Transportation and Distribution Committee successfully staving off a classification rate increase.

The Coatings Summit 2009: Shaping the Future of a Dynamic Industry
October 31, 2008
Coatings leaders from around the globe will convene on Feb. 15-17, 2009 in Munich, Germany to participate in the Coatings Summit, the fourth global strategy and networking forum for senior coatings executives.

NPCA's Next Member Services Directory Come Summer 2009
October 31, 2008
NPCA's annual Member Services Directory will be published in the summer of 2009 as a 2009-2010 book.

NPCA Forms Work Group to Address the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008
October 22, 2008
NPCA has formed a work group to guide members through the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA). At presstime, NPCA was compiling comments on behalf on industry to submit to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which was seeking comment on the new general conformity certification and third-party testing requirements in the new CPSIA.

Proposed National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Resins and Pigment Manufacturing Operations
October 22, 2008
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Oct. 6 proposed national emissions standards for hazardous air pollutants for nine area source (non-major source) categories in the chemical manufacturing sector, most importantly inorganic pigments manufacturing and resins manufacturing operations.

EPA Issues Final Toxicological Review for Hazardous Air Pollutant Propionaldehyde
October 22, 2008
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued the final toxicological review Sept. 30 of propionaldehyde, which it considers a hazardous air pollutant.

Definition of Solid Waste Final Rule
October 22, 2008
A final rule under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act streamlines regulation of hazardous secondary materials when they are recycled by reclamation.

NPCA's Practical Guide on REACH now Available; Webinar Scheduled for Oct. 30
September 30, 2008
NPCA has published a guidance manual for members entitled Registration, Evaluation, and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH) in The European Union: A Practical Guide for North American Paint and Coatings Formulators and their Suppliers, available now on www.Paint.org under both the REACH tab of Issues, and Publications.

Consumer Product Safety Commission Act - Clarification
September 30, 2008
Below is a clarification of certain portions of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Act of 2008, which was signed into law in August. There has been some confusion about the self-certification vs. third-party testing provision.

Green Marketing Claims; Guidance
September 30, 2008
Over the past several months, NPCA has received numerous requests for guidance on environmental or "green" marketing claims. With the proliferation of "green" products in the paint and coatings market, it is necessary for manufacturers to label these products appropriately to avoid confusing consumers.

Green Chemistry
September 30, 2008
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Sept. 29 signed into law legislation that will set the stage for implementation of a comprehensive "green chemistry" program in California.

Check out NPCAvotes.org for Election and Candidate Info!
September 16, 2008
With the 2008 Election just a month away, NPCA has partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to provide members with an online voter resource, www.npcavotes.org.

OSHA Aims to Clarify Requirements for PPE and Training
September 16, 2008
On Aug. 19, OSHA published a proposed rulemaking for "Clarification of Remedy for Violation of Requirements to Provide Personal Protective Equipment and Train Employees.

NPCA and CPC Go on Record for Proposed California Green Chemistry Bills
September 16, 2008
Late August saw a flurry of activity in the California legislature around Assembly Bill 1879 and Senate Bill 509, measures which will lay the foundation for the Green Chemistry Initiative by creating a web-based, comprehensive statewide program for managing chemicals in products, and which, at this writing, were on a fast track to becoming law.

Massachusetts Set to Have Tightest GHG Emissions Limits
September 16, 2008
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick on Aug. 7 signed into law a measure that establishes the strongest cap in the country on economy-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, mandating reductions of up to 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050.

Looking for Reliable Information on a Specific Industry Sector or Class of Coatings?
September 16, 2008
NPCA is now releasing individual chapters from its stellar market study, U.S. Paint & Coatings Industry Market Analysis (2006-2011).

FSCT's VLC Offerings in November
September 16, 2008
The FSCT has expanded its educational training opportunities with innovative e-learning offerings:  Virtual Learning Conferences (VLC). These popular programs combine audio-conferencing and Internet technologies for delivery to your computer. Only one fee per location is charged, regardless of the number of participants.

Marine Coatings Dominated by International Issues; New Domestic Issues Also Arise
August 20, 2008
The marine coatings sector continues to be dominated by international regulatory issues stemming from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), especially regulation of biocide antifouling coatings, and new performance standards for protective coatings (PSPC) for ballast tanks, void spaces, and oil cargo holds.

President Signs Consumer Product Safety Legislation; Residual Lead Levels in Consumer Paints to drop from 600ppm to 90ppm
August 19, 2008
President Bush on Aug. 14 signed into law a measure to address lead in children’s toys and to restrict the use of certain phthalates in children’s products.

New York Lead Reduction Bill Passes Both Houses
August 19, 2008
Both Houses of the New York state legislature have passed a lead-based paint remediation law that could help afflicted cities such as Rochester cope with a serious public health problem.

NPCA and FSCT Annual Meetings to be Joined by New CoatingsTech Conference in April
August 19, 2008
NPCA and the Federation of Societies for Coatings Technology (FSCT) will hold their annual meetings concurrently, and offer a new CoatingsTech Conference April 26-29 at the Indianapolis Marriot Downtown.

Senate and House Expected to Pass CPSC Legislation; Residual Lead Levels in Consumer Paints to drop from 600ppm to 90ppm
August 5, 2008
The final conference report for H.R. 4040, now known as the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, was issued last week.

EPA Finalizes Area Source Standards for Metal Fabrication and Finishing Operations
August 5, 2008
In the July 23 Federal Register, EPA published its final Area Source Standards for nine Metal Fabrication and Finishing source categories.

OSHA Close to Proposed GHS Rule
August 5, 2008
According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the agency is close to issuing a proposed rule on the Globally Harmonized System for classifying and labeling chemicals, commonly referred to as the GHS.

EPA Issues CTGs Proposed Rule for Various Product Coatings
July 17, 2008
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on July 14 published in the Federal Register the Control Technique Guidelines (CTG) proposed rule for auto and light-duty truck assembly coatings, metal and plastic coating, miscellaneous industrial adhesives and fiberglass boat manufacturing.

EPA Issues ANPR on Regulating Greenhouse Gas Emissions
July 17, 2008
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released an advance notice of proposed rule making (ANPR) and requests public input on how to proceed on the issue of regulating greenhouse gas emissions.

New York Lead Poisoning Prevention Update
July 17, 2008
Lead poisoning prevention took a significant step forward in New York State this year.

Pennsylvania Senate Passes Greenhouse Gas Emission Legislation
July 17, 2008
The Pennsylvania Senate has passed legislation, S. 266, that will catalog the sources and amounts of the state's greenhouse gas emissions, set up a voluntary emissions registry, and develop a plan for reducing or offsetting the state's contributions to global warming.

Marine Coatings Dominated by International Issues; New U.S. Domestic Issues Also Continue to Arise
July 17, 2008
International regulatory issues continue to dominate the marine coatings sector emanating from the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

EU Agency Issues Detailed Instructions on Completing REACH Notifications
July 17, 2008
Detailed instructions on completing registration records and notifications about chemicals under the registration, evaluation, and authorization of chemicals (REACH) regulation were issued by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) on July 1.

NPCA's Board of Directors Approves Continued Efforts for PPSI Legislation
June 30, 2008
On June 2, NPCA's Board of Directors accepted staff's recommended next steps for the Paint Product Stewardship Initiative (PPSI), following Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s veto of NPCA-sponsored legislation.

New BAAQMD Greenhouse Gas Fee in Effect
June 30, 2008
The San Francisco Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) approved an annual greenhouse gas fee to help fund the agency's climate protection work. 

New Developments on REACH Compliance for U.S. Manufacturers Selling in the EU: Using Your Raw Material Suppliers OR
June 30, 2008
The DG Enterprise Directorate in the EU announced on June 3 a revised position by the European Commission on whether the registration of a substance (i.e., raw material) under the regulation for Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH) by a non-EU manufacturer's Only Representative (OR) can cover the imports of that same substance in a preparation (i.e., paint formulation) produced by a non-EU formulator that purchases the manufacturer's substance.

IPPIC to Publish Global Paint & Coatings Industry Market Analysis Report (2007 - 2012); Reserve Your Copy Now at a Reduced Rate
June 30, 2008
The International Paint and Printing Ink Council (IPPIC) will publish its highly anticipated market analysis report on the global paint and coatings industry this December.

Department of Homeland Securities (DHS) Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) Update
June 30, 2008
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released Appendix A of the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) in November 2007.

California Air District sets Paint Emissions fees
June 19, 2008
The South Coast Air Quality Management Districts (SCAQMD) Governing Board on June 6 approved Rule 314 - Fees for Architectural Coatings.

China Restricts Transport of Hazardous Goods During Olympics; DOT Requests Clarification
June 19, 2008
The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) issued a directive June 2 temporarily restricting the movement of dangerous goods between July 1 and Sept. 30.