GDPR legislation takes effect this month
Are you ready? With the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) clock rapidly counting down to 25 May 2018 when the law comes into play, it businesses must ensure they are compliant. It is a detailed piece of legislation, so we can’t go into all the details here, but Ryan Naughton, operations director from CAM, and Stephen Ollernshaw, a director of Technology Law Alliance (creator of the online compliance tool Asimuth) recently provided Tyres & Accessories with their 10 key areas your business needs to know about GDPR.
Continue Reading‘No discussion at Federation level’ of UK EPR scheme for used tyres: TRA
The Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) has responded to an assertion by the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA) that “some discussions seem to have recently kicked-off in the UK to study the feasibility of introducing an EPR [extended producer responsibility] regime” following an enquiry by Tyres & Accessories. The TRA states that there have been “no discussions at Federation level” looking into a similar collective scheme approved by national authorities to that implemented by 23 European countries. It adds that it will seek clarification from the UK’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. The 2 May statement accompanied an ETRMA report on the collection and treatment of tyres in European markets.
Continue Reading94 per cent of all used tyres collected and treated in 2016: ETRMA
A consolidated report on used tyres arising in Europe in 2016 shows 94 per cent were collected and treated. In compiling the data, the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA), consolidated used tyre (UT) management data for 2016 covering 32 countries, including the EU28, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, and Turkey.
Continue ReadingTyre recycling company and manager sentenced for illegal Ayrshire tyre site
An Ayrshire tyre recycling company was fined £27,000 on 18 April 2018 at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court for waste offences at a site in Irvine. A manager was also ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work under a Community Payback Order and to pay a Confiscation Order of £44,711. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is reminding all companies of the importance of working within the regulations following this sentence.
Continue ReadingETRMA joins aftermarket coalition to call for access to in-vehicle data
The European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association has joined a broad industry coalition of independent aftermarket service providers, drivers, insurers to call on the EU to ensure a genuine digital level playing field for remote access to in-vehicle data.
Continue ReadingDOC reduces Guizhou Tyre duty rate
The US Department of Commerce (DOC) has revised its countervailing duty rate for Guizhou Tyre. According to the 13 April 2018 edition of the US government’s Federal Register, the new rate for Guizhou is 31.49 per cent down from a rate of 39.10 per cent that the DOC assessed in October 2017.
Continue ReadingToyo wins latest round of Doublestar legal action
Toyo Tire and Rubber and Toyo Tire USA have prevailed in the liability phase of the companys trade dress infringement and breach of contract suit in Los Angeles Federal Court against Doublestar Dong Feng Tyre and Qingdao Doublestar Tire Industrial.
Continue ReadingRetread Instead promotes pro-tariff lobbying actions
Retread Instead, a US coalition of retread industry supporters, is requesting industry members extend their letter writing campaign that supports imposing tariffs, antidumping duties and countervailing duties on Chinese truck and bus tyres that are imported into the US.
Continue ReadingTyre Recovery Association introduces Responsible Part Worn Tyre Programme
The Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) has announced the introduction of its Responsible Part Worn Tyre programme (RPWTP) at its 2018 forum day at the Belfry Hotel in Wishaw. The programme, introduced and strongly endorsed by Stefan Hay, chief executive of the National Tyre Distributors’ Association (NTDA) at the event, was detailed by Alan Bithell. The RPWTP has been designed with the purpose of raising standards of professionalism in retailers selling part-worn tyres, ensuring all tyres sold by participating retailers are legally compliant.
Continue Reading5 OTR tyre firms remanded to US Department of Commerce
The US Court of International Trade (CIT) has remanded five Chinese OTR tyre importers to the Department of Commerce (DOC). This means an antidumping duty determination against the five firms and has been made and DOC has been ordered to recalculate the antidumping margins it issued against them in a 2016 administrative review.
Continue ReadingDeestone to keep its name despite Bridgestone brand dispute
On 3 April the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) said Thai tyre maker Deestone can retain its brand name despite opposition from Bridgestone, which owns both the Bridgestone and Firestone tyre brands.
Continue ReadingHella Gutmann: Are workshops recalibrating vehicles after wheel alignment?
As of the start of 2016, new vehicles require a minimum of two advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) to qualify for a 5 star Euro NCAP safety rating. The minimum requirement is to have Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW), both of which are complex systems requiring specialist equipment to recalibrate following repair to the vehicle.
Continue Reading‘Lower the drink drive limit’ campaigners urge
As the latest provisional figures from the Department for Transport reveal that fatalities from drink driving have increased in the UK, safety campaigners are once again urging the Government to reconsider the drink drive limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Department for Transport’s report, which was released in February, estimates that 9,050 people were killed or injured in 2016 when at least one driver was over the drink-drive limit – a significant rise from 2015’s figure of 8,470 and the highest figure recorded since 2012.
Continue ReadingEuro VI lorries to pay reduced £900 levy
From February 2019, trucks meeting Euro VI emissions standards will be eligible for a 10 per cent reduction in the cost of the Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) levy. Changes to the levy mean that, from February 2019, Euro 0-V compliant trucks will have to pay a £1200 levy rate. Euro VI trucks however, will pay just £900. The current rate is £1000.
Continue ReadingITRS buys Vulcan-Vulcap
International Tire Repair Solutions (ITRS), a global distributor of tyre repair materials, has acquired Vulcan-Vulcap, a tyre repair and retread equipment manufacturer based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Vulcan-Vulcap specializes in curing equipment including section repair moulds, C clamps, spotters, retread equipment and the Vulcaflex OTR system.
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