Newsline
Volume VI, Issue 6 - March 18, 2005
The Carpet and Rug Institute news for industry executives
In This Issue:
-- Carpet Industry Hailed By EPA
-- Stain-X Becomes 15th SOA Certified Product
-- CRI Engaged In EU Wood Pallet Argument
-- Eighth Annual International Latex Conference Set
-- Stephen Johnson Named EPA Administrator
-- White House Launches Push for Pro-Business Regulation
-- Toxicology Society Adopts Conflict Rules, Raises Profile
-- CRI Meetings
-- CRI Participation in Upcoming Events
Carpet Industry Hailed By EPA
The Carpet Industry was recently nominated to receive the Climate Protection
Award given annually by the EPA, and while it was not selected as the overall
winner of the award, CRI did receive a note from an administrator for the EPA
commending the Carpet Industry on its environmental efforts.
Kris N. Taddonio, U.S. EPA Climate Protection Awards, Climate Protection Partnerships
Division, personally penned a note saying:
"I wanted to write to you and personally commend the Carpet Manufacturing
Industry's efforts and encourage you to keep up the good work. The competition
was stiff this year, and in many cases, the decisions were close. Regardless
of this award, the Carpet Manufacturing Industry deserves recognition for all
that they've done to protect the Environment. Thank you."
Contact Frank Hurd at 706.428.2136.
Stain-X
Becomes 15th SOA Certified Product
Stain-X Spot Remover has joined the family of Seal of Approval (SOA) certified
products, bringing the list of qualified products to 15 since the program was
launched last fall. Stain-X is manufactured by AMI and is headquartered in
Madison, Wis.
The CRI Seal of Approval program tests products for efficacy, resoiling, pH,
optical brighteners, and colorfastness to light. Seal of Approval certifies
that the product has passed the program's rigorous testing protocol.
Contact Joan Seelaus at 706.428.2123
Learn
more about CRI's SOA Program
CRI Engaged In EU Wood Pallet Argument
The European Union (EU) plans to implement a new directive on wood products
that could affect up to $80 Billion worth of U.S. Agricultural and Commercial
exports to the EU that are shipped on wooden pallets or in wood packaging materials.
CRI has been assured that the U.S. and several other WTO members believe that
the new debarking requirement in the EU's new directive goes beyond the International
Standard already in place, and is not consistent with WTO rules. An effort is
underway to suspend the requirement.
Contact Frank Hurd at 706.428.2136.
Eighth Annual International Latex Conference Set
The eighth annual International Latex Conference will be held July 26-27,
2005 in Charlotte, NC after seven years in Akron, OH. Charlotte has been selected
for its close proximity to the emerging latex industry in the Southern United
States.
The 2005 program will once again feature the interactive natural and synthetic
latex panel discussions which are open to all conference attendees. Panelists
will answer questions about specific materials issues, applications or design
concerns.
Contact
James Beach at 706.428.2116.
Visit
the International Latex Conference website for more information
Stephen Johnson Named EPA Administrator
For the first time, a career official has been nominated as the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator. Stephen L. Johnson, a 24-year veteran
of the Agency who has been serving as acting administrator since the departure
of Michael Leavitt, was nominated by President Bush last week to fill the position
permanently. As noted in The Washington Post, Johnson is the first scientist
to be nominated for the position. At EPA, he previously served as Deputy Administrator,
and also led the Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances for
several years.
Contact Frank Hurd at 706.428-2136.
White House Launches Push for Pro-Business Regulation
The Bush administration is expected to launch a push for simplifying regulatory
structures in order to help improve the overall climate for U.S. manufacturing
industries. According to The Wall Street Journal, the Office of Management
and Budget- led initiative would include streamlining and adding flexibility
to pollution standards, chemical-handling rules, and workers' medical leave
protections. The initiative is similar to Bush's first-term goal of simplifying
regulations, which never gained a strong following at the agency level. This
time around, the White House is expected to put forward a new priority list
of regulations to be addressed for possible overhaul.
Contact Frank Hurd at 706.428-2136.
Toxicology Society Adopts Conflict Rules, Raises Profile
Following a recent decision by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to
revise guidelines on conflict of interest for employees working with pharmaceutical
and biotechnology industries, the Society of Toxicology has adopted its own
set of guidelines for its top officers. According to Risk Policy Report, the
new rules may help position the organization to play a larger role in mediating
scientific disputes related to EPA risk assessment policies.
Contact Frank Hurd at 706.428-2136.
CRI Meetings
* CRI Operating Committee, March 30, 9:00-11:00 am
* Market Issues Committee, April 4, 12:00 - 2:00 pm
* Green Label Vacuum Promotion Workgroup, April 12, 3:30 - 5:00 pm
* Technical Issues Committee, April 14, 1:00 - 3:00 pm
CRI Participation in Upcoming Events
* American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAI) 61st Annual Meeting,
March 18-22, San Antonio, Texas
* Connections Convention and Trade Show, April 18-20, Orlando, Florida
* EnvironDesign9, April 20-22, New York, New York
If you are aware of other events that present significant opportunities
to deliver our messages to our critical audiences, please contact Louise
Dobbs at 706.428.2104.
Check
our website calendar for other industry related events
