Publications

This PP establishes EIGA position which is that QP in the medicinal gas industry should be allowed to certify product remotely and for more than one site

With this Position Paper EIGA urges Member States and their key stakeholders to continue to support this approach in the draft Regulation in order to maintain consistent rules and application for transferred carbon dioxide across the EU.

The ETS directive provides that a few sectors, particularly exposed to a significant risk of carbon leakage due to costs relating to greenhouse gas emissions that are passed on in electricity prices (indirect costs) may receive from Member States some financial compensations, in accordance with state aid rules. The principle of equality of treatment, already stated in Recital 23 of the ETS directive, should be explicitly included within the State Aid Guidelines for indirect emissions.

This PP proposes that medical gas packages supplied to Homecare patients should be exempt from the requirement to fit Braille labels, based on an initial homecare risk assessment and patient carer information and training

EIGA-REC has identified potential risks of market distortion for the Industrial Gas sector in the European Union’s European Trading System (ETS) directive regarding financial compensation which may be granted by Member states to their national exposed energy intensive industries: - risk of not been deemed as an exposed energy intensive industry, contrary to other industry sectors using Industrial gases and operating on-site ASUs; - risk of multiple or inappropriate benchmarks for Air Separation Plant electricity consumption. The purpose of Position Paper PP-33 is to propose a single Air Separation Plant benchmark that can be used in all EU industry sectors for the purpose of compensation of costs regarding Greenhouse gas emissions passed on electricity prices.

The pharmaceutical best practice is that medical gases are supplied in cylinders owned by the Manufacturer Licence and covered under a Marketing Authorisation. The filling of customer owned cylinders shall follow the basic principles of the Good Manufacturing Practice Guide

EIGA members have recently seen an increase of reports and presentations in television programmes and other media demonstrating different effects of inert gases like Helium, Nitrous Oxide also known as laughing gas, Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and more. In these cases the use of the gas can only be described as substance abuse. The media reports generally trivialise the effects of inhaling gases such as helium to achieve a very high-pitched voice. EIGA members and emergency services are aware of several accidents and fatalities as a result of the abuse of gases. EIGA strongly disapproves of the use of gases on the human body without medical surveillance and, in particular, disapproves the inhalation of any gases, except those when prescribed and used as medicines, or when specifically produced, sold and used for breathing applications such as diving, etc. EIGA recommends its members or their National Associations to contact and inform any media or party involved in these presentations.

The safe filling of gas cylinders requires that the persons performing the operation have detailed and expert knowledge of, in particular gas properties, cylinder design, plant operation and relevant legislation. This is in addition to use of the appropriate equipment and inspection of the cylinder to be filled. Experience has shown that transfilling of gases, usually from a larger cylinder to a smaller cylinder, by unqualified persons have caused serious incidents including a number of fatalities. EIGA's position is that only competent and trained professionals transfill industrial, medical and food grade gases using cylinders and equipment specifically designed for the cylinder transfilling operation. Transfilling of medical gases is only allowed if a specific manufacturing licence has been issued by the competent health authority.

Odorization has been used for many years in fuel gases and its success as a warning indicator is linked to the fact that its presence in air is always an indication of a hazardous situation. Fuel gases can only be admitted safely to the atmosphere if it is a component in a combustion process, and this process destroys the odorant. Following serious incidents in nitrogen atmosphere in confined spaces or burn injuries in an oxygen enriched atmosphere, odorization of atmospheric gases is considered by some users. In response to this, EIGA has developed this Position Paper. The Position Paper makes a number of recommendations for those users who could be considering the odorization of atmospheric gases.

Keeping employees and contractors motivated and involved with environmental activities has significant benefits. Engaged employees generate ideas, are motivated to work to procedures and standards, and suggest practical modifications to work practices that may minimise environmental impact and improve business processes by using less resources. This Environmental Newsletter shares learnings and best practices for increased employee involvement in environmental activities and aspects.