NEWS

BAFD alerts UK minister to origin marking dangers

The chairman of the British Association of Fastener Distributors has written to UK Trade Minister of State, Mark Prisk, expressing the association’s deep concern over proposed EU legislation requiring country of origin marking on fastener products.

W riting on 18th February Jim Barker

describes the European Parliament resolution “on the indication of the country of origin of certain products

imported from third countries” as having “potentially massive cost implications for the UK fastener distribution industry – and it would seem for many, many other UK companies, be they manufacturers, distributors or retailers.” First of seven major concerns outlined

by Barker is that “This resolution has been carried through apparently without any stakeholder consultation, despite the fact that industry is known to have serious objections.” On a pragmatic level BAFD contends

that such legislation would not prevent counterfeit or sub standard product from entering the market. “Companies capable of counterfeiting engineered product,” says Barker, “would have no difficulty replicating a ‘made in’ mark on product or packaging”. Barker sees the resolution as “a furtherance of the narrow based and highly protectionist aspirations of a minority of European fastener manufacturers” that would “place a major administrative burden and additional costs on fastener distributors, which would inevitably be passed onto fastener users throughout UK

manufacturing and construction sectors as well as consumers.” Barker also believes that such legislation

would “send a highly counterproductive signal to the UK’s trading partners throughout the world precisely at the time when British industry least needs to face countermeasures from important target markets as a result of ill- thought out and narrow interest EU legislation”. “BAFD’s position is that there is no reason

to interfere with the current European and national rules on marking and determining origin,” says Barker. “Where fasteners are required for safety critical applications, European Technical Approvals, requirements for CE marking, and industry specific certification procedures, such as Automotive PPAP, already exist to provide critical quality assurance and confirmation of origin”. “BAFD has requested the Minister’s assurances

that the UK will adamantly oppose the adoption of this resolution by the Council of Europe,” Barker explains. “To date we have not received a response from Mr Prisk. I hope it will be forthcoming and that it will match the Department of Business, Innovations and Skills’ repeated commitment to alleviating, not compounding, the bureaucratic burden on UK industry.”

Interfast commits to aerospace JV in China

Global aerospace and industrial fastener distributor, Interfast Inc signed a letter of intent with China’s AVIC International Zhuhai Company Limited to create a joint venture company that will supply specialised fasteners and hardware, fastening systems, and value-added services to the growing aerospace market in China and Asia-Pacific Rim.

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nterfast was in Hong Kong as part of a trade mission arranged by the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade to attend the 2011 Asian Aerospace International Expo and Conference. “We’re very pleased to partner with AVIC International Zhuhai Co. on this significant

initiative to create a premier fastener integrator for the Chinese aerospace market that will service the growing needs of both the domestic Chinese aerospace community, as well as international aerospace manufacturers, airlines and maintenance repair and overhaul facilities,” says Peter Oleck, president, Interfast Inc. “Interfast is a leader in the supply of specialised aerospace fasteners and brings

customised supply chain logistics and management programs that minimise costs and maximise competitiveness. AVIC International Zhuhai Co. is an influential, state-owned enterprise, whose parent company (AVIC) has been in charge of China’s aerospace programmes related to high-quality aerospace research & development and manufacturing, and has become more and more acknowledged by the global aerospace industries.” The joint venture company will be located in Zhuhai City in Guangdong Province in China.

Interfast has worked with AVIC since 1995 and has a long history of servicing customers in China, working both with global aircraft manufacturers as well as Chinese aircraft manufacturers.

14 Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 68 March 2011