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We understand that a majority of Member States representing more than 70% of the EU population supported the imposition of definitive measures.

Provisional duties were imposed on 15 November 2012.

The Regulation was published in the Official Journal of the European Union (L 131 Volume 56 of 15 May).

Cerame-Unie (European Trade Association) has published a press release

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They are warning that UK supplies of gas have been running perilously low and that the consequences of this are harming firms and stifling employment.

Temporarily running out of gas altogether would be disastrous for many businesses, claim organisations including the British Chambers of Commerce and the TUC.

Rules governing procedures in the event of chronic shortage state that many manufacturers which rely on gas for production would have to shut down at very short notice.

That could cause millions of pounds of damage to some sectors, critics claim, while others would lose orders.

At the moment, sites are exempted from shutdown if the potential damage to factory equipment from gas supply interruption is more than £50 million. Domestic consumers are protected by separate rules.

Dr Laura Cohen, chief executive of the British Ceramic Confederation, said: “In March there were times when there was almost no spare gas in the UK – and we believe supply interruptions are inevitable in future unless action is taken immediately.

“The Department of Energy and Climate Change has to bring down the £50 million damage threshold before it’s too late. Too many vital industries are excluded by the existing levels.

“In addition, there needs to be some mechanism that allows phased shutdowns of plant like the large tunnel kilns used by brick makers. Just flicking the switch on these could cause very serious damage.”

Dr Cohen added: “The Government needs to intervene to ensure there is extra gas storage in the UK and a requirement to hold adequate safety stocks. Uncertainty over supply has led to terrible price volatility and that makes investment in new equipment and jobs extremely difficult. Energy security is essential in any modern and industrial economy.”

During March, gas prices varied between 75p per therm and £1.50 per therm as a result of concerns over supply – in particular when an interconnector at the Bacton gas terminal in Norfolk failed.

Wayne Sheppard, managing director of Ibstock Brick Limited, said: “If we have to turn off our kilns at short notice it could cause extremely serious damage. The £50 million threshold is much too high and it needs bringing down immediately.

“In the medium term, price fluctuations and uncertainty over supply make it much harder to make investment decisions. That uncertainty needs to be tackled, and developing storage infrastructure and safety stocks are essential.”

As coal-fired electricity generation is scaled back to meet green targets, gas-fired stations will initially make up much of the shortfall. In addition, increased reliance on intermittent renewable energy will see more gas-generated electricity being used as back-up. Both these factors, many industry commentators believe, could exacerbate gas shortages.

DECC is reviewing whether it needs to intervene in the UK gas market and, if so, what form that intervention should take. A decision is expected next month.

Dr Adam Marshall, director of policy and external affairs at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “Large-scale investment in plant is often dependent on stability and having confidence in the future. How can these industries be expected to create jobs and wealth if there are serious concerns about the fuel on which they depend?

“The Government has to work with suppliers to come up with a way of protecting provision and ironing out damaging price volatility. Significant investment in storage has to be investigated as a matter of urgency.”

The TUC backed the calls of the British Chambers of Commerce and the British Ceramic Confederation.

Nicola Smith, Head of Economics and Social Affairs at the TUC, said: “The Government has to step in to reduce the damage threshold and minimise price volatility.

“Uncertainty over gas supplies hampers employment at a time when we need every job we can get. If the politicians are serious about rebalancing the economy, then they need to pay more than just lip service to industry.

“Thousands of manufacturers are dependent on gas, so supply interruptions could have a really significant effect on businesses and jobs.”

ENDS

NB Photo and TV opportunities can be arranged at manufacturers in many parts of the UK

For media enquiries or to arrange an interview, please contact David Johnson at Shepherd PR on 01335 368020 or email david@shepherd-pr.com

Experts from the British Ceramic Confederation are happy to comment on relevant issues and contribute to relevant articles.

Notes to Editors

The British Ceramic Confederation represents the collective interests of all sectors of the UK ceramics manufacturing industry.

The British Ceramic Confederation safeguards the industry's prosperity, acting on its behalf in discussions and negotiations with government and public authorities.

The British Ceramic Confederation's 100 member companies together comprise over 90% of the UK ceramic industry's manufacturing capacity. The wide range of products include:

• domestic and commercial tableware and giftware
• sanitaryware, wall - and floor - tiles
• bricks, clay roof tiles, clay pipes and land drains
• industrial ceramics and refractories
• material supplies for use in the industry

Materials Innovation for a Sustainable Economy - close date 24th April, 2013

Buildings Better Connected - close date 1st May, 2013

New Business Models in High Value Manufacturing - close date 24th April, 2013

Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative - registration deadline 22nd May, 2013

Formulated products - meeting the product and process design challenge - registration deadline 12th June, 2013

• Reduced Rates Certificates
• Underlying Agreements Reminder
• New PP10 /PP11 Forms

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More information was given in the Commission Regulation (EU No 1072/2102 of 14 November 2012)

In March 2013 the European Commission informed interested parties and EU Member States of its proposal to impose definitive anti-dumping duties between 13.1 and 23.4% for cooperating Chinese manufacturers and 36.1% for non cooperating companies. We understand that the Commission's proposal is supported by the majority of EU Member States.

Should it be confirmed, definitive trade measures are expected to be adopted by EU Member States, taking effect in mid-May 2013.

Cerame-Unie have issued a press release.

If you do not have a user name and password for accessing members-only documents, please email Helen Clarke from your company email account.

1.  CCL Issue 161 - revision of the previously circulated document, which now includes a slightly more flexible definition of 'fired saleable tonnes' consistent with audits during the first phase.

2.  CCL Issue 162 - important changes to the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme.

3.  CCL Issue 163 - new underlying agreements and an update on the Mineralogical Process Exemption.

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We also indicate our recent work with politicans and media: BCC were interviewed with member, Ibstock Brick Ltd on You and Yours. The interview is available  at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01rg1gk time into broadcast: 41.20 – 48.53.

If you do not have a user name and password for accessing members-only documents, please email Helen Clarke from your company email account.

If you do not have a user name and password for accessing members-only documents please email Helen Clarke from your company email account.

If you do not have a user name and password for accessing members-only documents, please email Helen Clarke from your company email account.

If you do not have a user name and password for accessing members-only documents, please email Helen Clarke from your company email account

If you do not have a user name and password for accessing members-only documents, please email Helen Clarke from your company email account.

The Tea For The Jubilee judging panel selected two winners from 20 young finalists who entered the competition, all hoping for a chance to design a cup and saucer for the Queen as a special gift to mark her Diamond Jubilee year and her 60 years as monarch.

The winner in the junior category was Becky McGrath, aged nine, from Newton Primary School in Chester, while the senior winner was Angelika Wimalasooriya, aged 12, from Ormiston Sir Stanley Matthews Academy in Stoke-on-Trent.

Both of them will see their winning ware designs produced and enjoy a trip to Buckingham Palace later this month to hand them over to the royal household. Their schools will also be presented with a cheque for £2,500 to be spent on books and equipment, courtesy of the British Ceramic Confederation.

Presenting their prizes at a special awards ceremony held at the historic Potters’ Club in Stoke were Kevin Oakes, Chairman of the British Ceramic Gift and Tableware Manufacturers’ Association (BCGTMA) and member of the British Ceramic Confederation Board who formed part of the competition judging panel, and also Chief Executive of the British Ceramic Confederation, Dr Laura Cohen.

Kevin Oakes said: “I was absolutely delighted to take part in the Tea For The Jubilee competition and we were inundated with wonderful designs from across the country.

“This made my role as one of the judges particularly difficult, though I am confident Her Majesty will love the two colourful cups and saucers we decided upon.”

Second place in the junior category went to Lily Barrs, from Grove Junior School, Longton, while third place went to Callum Oakden from St Pauls CE Primary School in Longton.

In the senior category second and third places went to Ormiston Sir Stanley Matthews Academy pupils Lizzie Barnish and Rebecca Yewdell.

But none of the children went home empty handed, as all the finalists received a special goody bag containing gifts from ceramics companies including Royal Stafford, Denby, Steelite and Churchill and sweets courtesy of Mr Simms.

Presenting the prizes to the schools, Laura Cohen added: “We have a world class UK ceramic industry. We will continue to need the brightest designers, engineers, scientists. That’s why as a trade association we were keen to sponsor the competition and encourage schools to participate.”

 For more information on the Tea For The Jubilee competition visit www.teaforthejubilee.co.uk or call 01782 284616.

ENDS

For media queries contact Jennie Doyle at Plinkfizz on 01782 284616, email: jennie@plinkfizz.com or Kerryanne Clancy at kerryanne@plinkfizz.com

NOTES TO EDITORS

• The British Ceramic Confederation is the trade association for the UK ceramic manufacturing industry.   Its 100 member companies cover the full spectrum of ceramic manufacture. A full list of members of the British Ceramic Confederation is available at http://www.ceramfed.co.uk/members/
• The British Ceramic Gift and Tableware Manufacturers' Association are members of the British Ceramic Confederation that are responsible for manufacturing tableware and giftware.  
• The British Ceramic Confederation is providing a total prize fund of £5,000 to be split by the two winning schools and to be used for the purpose of providing a legacy of either equipment or books across the sectors of design, technology, science or art. 
• The competition has two age categories Junior school designers in years 1 to 6 and Senior school designers in years 7 to 13. 
• Sponsors and supporters of the Tea for the Jubilee competition include British Ceramic Confederation, Crafts Council, Steelite International, Waterford Wedgwood Royal Doulton, Royal Stafford, Portmeirion Group, Churchill China, Denby, and Moorcroft.  
• The Tea For The Jubilee competition was launched in May 2012, as a combined effort by British ceramic manufacturers to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year in a unique way and create a special gift to celebrate her 60 years as monarch. 
• Three cups and saucers will be created from each winning design, one for the Queen, one for the winner and one to be displayed at the Potters’ Club in Stoke-on-Trent.

A copy of the issue can also be found under CCA, CCL and CRC in the Energy and Emissions section of the key topics area on our website

If you do not have a user name and password for accessing members-only documents, please email Helen Clarke from your company email account.

BCC has also given written and oral evidence at the Environmental Audit Committee inquiry into the Energy Intensive Compensation Scheme. This can be watched on the Parliament TV website (our evidence starts at 39.20).

A fuller analysis is available (to BCC members only) in the Energy Policy, Security and Costs section of our website.  If you do not have a username and password for accessing members-only documents, please email Helen Clarke from your company email account.

A press release is available

BCC have had some coverage in local and national media e.g. BBC News 24 (the programme was filmed at BCC Member, WWRD (Wedgwood Royal Doulton)  

A full version of the Autumn Statement is available on the HM Treasury Website:

The analysis is available in the Economic Outlook section  of the web site, and is accessible to British Ceramic Confederation members only.

More specific issues with analysis that may be of relevance to members are covered in the sections on:

1. Construction / Housing
2. Capital allowances / corporation tax
3. Exports
4. Training / Skills / employment
5. Energy issues
6. Planning
7. R&D / Regional Growth Fund / Supply Chains

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If you do not have a user name and password for accessing members-only documents please email Helen Clarke from your company email account.

British Ceramic Confederation Chief Executive, Dr Laura Cohen said,

“The £10 billion worth of guarantees for housing construction was welcome – but little if any of this is additional finance. We clearly need to see more detail and indeed the speed at which this support will be provided. We also welcome the new £1.3bn promised for improvements in further education colleges and capital expenditure for schools.”

Stephen Harrison, Managing Director of brick manufacturer Hanson Building Products UK said, “There is a desperate new housing shortage in the UK and it is important that the Government does what it can to get Britain building. This can make a fast and significant positive impact to the employment of skilled workers.”

Laura Cohen added, “We also welcome the increase in annual capital investment allowance in plant and machinery from £ 25,000 to £250,000. This may help smaller companies, but that taken, even with the welcome extra corporation tax cut to 21% in 2014 may not tip the balance in favour of the UK for larger companies making major investment decisions.”

British Ceramic Confederation Technical Director, Dave Beardsworth added, “As an energy intensive industry, we need secure and internationally competitive energy supplies. We therefore welcome the announcement of more gas-fired power stations and also the environmentally responsible development of shale gas.  However, we would want to see much more commitment to ensure we have a level playing field in the UK compared to overseas competitors for energy intensive industries. We also need help in developing essential breakthrough technologies to reduce our emissions and improve energy efficiency.”  

ENDS

Notes to editors

The British Ceramic Confederation is the trade association for the UK ceramic manufacturing industry, representing the common and collective interests of all sectors of the industry.   Its 100 member companies cover the full spectrum of ceramic manufacture, including the supply of materials, and comprise over 90% of the industry’s manufacturing capacity.  A full list of members of the British Ceramic Confederation is available on request.

The Autumn Statement:  http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/autumn_statement_2012_complete.pdf

For further information please contact: 

Dr Laura Cohen, Chief Executive, British Ceramic Confederation, Federation House, Station Road, Stoke-on-Trent.  ST4  2SA.  

Tel:  07827 358613   E-mail:  laurac@ceramfed.co.uk    www.ceramfed.co.uk

The Ceramic Roadmap calls for a supportive regulatory framework to facilitate development and investment in breakthrough technologies, to promote European competitiveness based on sustainable economic growth and to reduce the risk of carbon and job leakage.

At the launch, keynote speaker William Neale, member of the Cabinet of EU Commissioner for the Environment Janez Potocnik, praised the industry’s initiative by saying that the Ceramics Roadmap was very much aligned with the Commission Resource Efficiency Roadmap to 2050.

Dr Laura Cohen, Chief Executive of the British Ceramic Confederation and chair of the Ceramic Roadmap Steering Committee, guided the audience through the main messages of the Roadmap and presented the emissions reduction model developed by Cerame-Unie.  The model shows the emissions reductions the European ceramics industry could potentially achieve by 2050, as well as the support needed to reach these goals and an overview of known and breakthrough technologies.

She called on policymakers to take a holistic approach to resource and energy efficiency that considers the complete lifecycle of the product including its use and end of life, rather than just the carbon at the point of manufacture. 

Dr Cohen added, ““We wanted to develop a common vision across our industry. We look forward to working with policymakers and stakeholders to develop a path for the ceramics industry as part of a competitive low-carbon and resource-efficient economy in the UK and Europe.  We need to create a supportive regulatory environment to allow UK and European industry to meet the emissions reductions targets while remaining competitive.”

Neale Parkin, Managing Director of DSF Refractories and Minerals said, “Ceramics are designed to be durable and play an essential and often indispensible role for the energy and resource efficiency of other sectors. Ceramics will continue to have an exciting and critical role in the 21^st century in many innovative applications.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

The British Ceramic Confederation is the trade association for the UK ceramic manufacturing industry, representing the common and collective interests of all sectors of the industry.   Its 100 member companies cover the full spectrum of ceramic manufacture, including the supply of materials, and comprise over 90% of the industry’s manufacturing capacity.  A full list of members of the British Ceramic Confederation is available at http://www.ceramfed.co.uk/members/

For further information please contact: Dr Laura Cohen, Chief Executive, British Ceramic Confederation, Federation House, Station Road, Stoke-on-Trent.  ST4  2SA.   Tel:  01782  572845    E-mail:  laurac@ceramfed.co.uk    www.ceramfed.co.uk

The Ceramic Roadmap ‘Paving the Way to 2050’

Cerame-Unie is the trade industry association representing over 2,000 national associations and companies from all sectors of the European ceramic industry, across 25 EU Member States.

Cabinet of EU Commissioner for the Environment Janez Potocnik,

Commission Resource Efficiency Roadmap to 2050.

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A copy of the issue can also be found under CCA, CCL and CRC in the Energy and Emissions section of the key topics area on our website.

If you do not have a user name and password for accessing members-only documents, please email Helen Clarke from your company email account.

More information is given in the Commission Regulation (EU No 1072/2102 of 14 November 2012)

Cerame-Unie have issued a press release.