Doc 125/20 - Guide to the Supply of Gases for Use in Foods

(Revision of Doc 125/11) The basis for European food legislation is Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety. Current and proposed European legislation requires that foods, including gases supplied to the food industry as food additives and ingredients meet increasingly rigorous standards to ensure food safety.

Gases are used for a variety of purposes in the food industry as additives, processing aids and ingredients. Particularly for food additive and food ingredients, there are requirements regarding labelling, purity and hygiene.

This publication covers all stages of the supply chain including production, storage, re-packaging and distribution of food gases to the final user (customer or consumer).

The publication is intended to establish an awareness of the particular legislative requirements as they apply to food gases and to offer advice as to how these requirements can be met. These requirements cover legislation in the following areas:

• use of food gases including purity criteria;

• hygiene and food safety requirements including use of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP);

• labelling; and

• lot marking and traceability.

TB 13/20 - Safe Design, Use and Inspection of Cylinder Pallets

(Revision of TB 13/14) Cylinder pallets are widely used within the industrial gas industry. They are used to secure cylinders safely during transport, storage and filling.

There are no CEN or ISO standards for the design and use of cylinder pallets. This Technical Bulletin provides guidance on areas that should be considered for safe operation of cylinder pallets, including design, manufacture and use.

The Technical Bulletin is intended for those personal who are involved in the design, procurement and operation of cylinder pallets.

TB 37/20 - COVID-19 - Multilateral Agreement M331 - Periodic Inspection and Test of Pressure Receptacles for the Carriage of Gases of Class 2

As result of the 2^nd wave Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic EIGA requested an exceptional temporary derogation to ADR be issued to assist in the availability of pressure receptacles for primarily medical oxygen, but also to other gases related to the medical supply chain.

The derogation is granted via a Multilateral Agreement M331, which permits Countries that have enacted ADR into their national transport legislation to agree to a variation to ADR. It does not require that every country has to sign an MLA for it to be adopted in an individual country.

This Technical Bulletin provides explanation to EIGA members and others who fill the listed products in M331, what they should do and not do.

EMA report

EIGA is still actively attending the periodic meetings with the European Medicines Agency COVID19 Steering Committee. Our recent reporting was following:

• There is currently an increase in medical oxygen and nitric oxide demand. EIGA members can ensure the supply of these medical gases (provided the same derogations are extended or maintained as during the first wave).

• EIGA members manufacturers and suppliers of medical gases have observed a shift in oxygen therapy behaviour towards the high flow oxygen therapy (typically between 20 and 60 l/min).

• These therapies require specific medical devices for their administration which should follow this increase of demand.

AHG-R.3

The AHG R3 is currently focusing on the conclusion of State Aid Guidelines for the compensation of indirect effects of the Emissions Trading System (ETS) that appear in electricity costs. Hydrogen has been included as eligible for compensation and EIGA will now monitor how the guidelines will be implemented by Member States, which are ultimately in charge of providing state aid. EIGA will also monitor implementation to ensure that the level playing field for outsourcing is not distorted by the exclusion of oxygen and nitrogen from compensation.

The inclusion of hydrogen reflects the focus that the European Commission is giving to this sector. In this context, the Clean Hydrogen Alliance was created and EIGA has become a member. Activities within this framework will also involve the AHG R3, especially on the use of hydrogen for industrial processes.

In parallel, AHG R3 focus has now started to shift towards the reform process of the EU ETS, which was officially launched with the Commission’s recent request for initial stakeholder views. This will represent a key issue for EIGA in the coming months as the Commission looks to expand the scope of the ETS and potentially introduce a complementary “carbon border adjustment mechanism” (a border tax based on assumed emissions outside the EU), on which EIGA has also provided its views. Note that while the Commission is starting the reform process for the ETS, elements of Phase 4 implementation still need to be defined e.g. the Monitoring and Reporting Rules (MRR).

This is a new area of interest for AHG-R3 is the review of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED). Implications may be expected in the hydrogen-for-mobility sector and, potentially, merchant CO2. This review of the RED, like that of the ETS, is driven by the requirements of the EU Green Deal.

Finally, EIGA is about to engage on the reform process for the Environmental and Energy State Aid Guidelines (EEAG) and is preparing its responses to a double consultation that was launched last week by the European Commission. Recall that several Member State schemes that provide cost relief to the Industrial Gases sector, in recognition of the sector’s high electricity intensity, depend upon recognition under the EEAG.

Awareness Package TP INC 40/20 - Recent Incidents in the Industrial and Medical Gases Industry (SAC 164)

At each meeting of the EIGA Safety Advisory Council (SAC), the members exchange information on gas industry related incidents (accidents causing injuries, property or environmental damage and near-misses). SAC discusses and analyses these incidents. This information is used by SAC to determine the priorities for safety alerts, safety information, new and revised documents, campaigns etc.

In this Awareness Package are the summaries and photographs of recent incidents discussed at SAC.

This publication can be viewed or downloaded on the EIGA Website (restricted to EIGA Members only ) by clicking here