The Japan Environmental Management Association for Industry (JEMAI) have entered into a ground breaking agreement with the Environmental Technologies Centre of Industrial Collaboration (ETCIC) based at the University of Hull, following a world wide search for the tools to help its members meet REACH legislation, which came into force on 1 June 2007.

The new European chemical regulation; Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals is possibly the most wide reaching piece of legislation to hit the chemical industry to date and goes beyond just manufacturers of chemicals.

All manufacturers, users and importers of chemicals will need to comply with REACH and for this reason, the unique Postgraduate Certificate in REACH Management which has been developed by the ETCIC at the University of Hull was deemed as the best tool to deliver this. With support from Yorkshire Forward, an agreement was finalised in which JEMAI will translate the training materials and have the exclusive rights to deliver these materials in Japan.

JEMAI was founded in 1962 when industrial pollution was becoming a serious concern in Japan and is a public corporation organized by the membership of 1,000 companies.

JEMAI's activities include environmental assessments, technology developments and surveys regarding air and water pollution, noise, vibration and hazardous chemical substances as well as global environmental issues. JEMAI is commissioned as the organizing body of the national examination for Pollution Control Managers.

Speaking upon conclusion of the agreement, the President of JEMAI, Mr Kazuo Yamada stated: "We have been looking to deliver state of the art training to our members and have been delighted have secured the rights to this truly unique material. We intend to deliver a short course on REACH to our members in Japan and are looking at this being the first step in a long term partnership between JEMAI and the University of Hull."

Dr David Calvert, Commercial Manager at ETCIC commented: "We set out to develop a high quality training package designed to meet industry requirements for managing a REACH compliance programme. Endorsement by an internationally respected organisation such as JEMAI gives us re-assurance that we have gone a long way to achieving this goal"

Jim Farmery, Head of Innovation for Yorkshire Forward comments: "We are extremely pleased to support the development of this agreement between JEMAI and the University of Hull and hope it is the start of a long term partnership.

This is deserved recognition for a unique course championing the drive to equip our region with people on the front line and bring the chemicals industry in compliance with REACH legislation – ensuring the future of the industry in Yorkshire and Humber."