ECETOC launches Associate Membership
As of the beginning of 2006, small and medium-sized chemicals companies will have the improved opportunity to join the ECETOC network as Associate Members.
Voted by its members at the 2005 Annual General Assembly, this development represents one element of a strategy for the European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals to better serve the manufacturers and users of chemicals in a post-REACH era.
The market for the manufacture and use of chemicals is made up of large, medium and small companies, but currently it is mainly the large entities that are involved in ECETOC. The market is changing and individual organisations are seeing the benefits of co-operating to share scientific information in the area of safety health and environmental product issues. Small and medium-sized companies are becoming more and more concerned with issues of ecotoxicology and toxicology due to regulatory and consumer pressures.
Therefore in pursuing its mission to act as an independent, credible, peer-reviewed technical resource to all concerned, ECETOC will launch two new types of Associate Membership on 1st January 2006:
* Associate Membership A: For companies manufacturing or using chemicals with a global turnover of more than €0.5 billion but less than €2.0 billion.
* Associate Membership B: For companies that primarily formulate and use chemicals with a global turnover1 greater than €0.1 billion but less than €0.5 billion.
While it is envisaged that the Full Members will continue to steer and guide the general direction of ECETOC, Associate Members will be able to benefit from a range of advantages at a reduced fee, including:
* scientific expert involvement in the ECETOC work programme;
* the ability to put forward programme topics;
* networking opportunities and the exchange of information on ecotoxicology and toxicology information;
* receipt of free or reduced price services.
Click on the following link for a matrix of the new types of membership, together with corresponding fees and benefits.