BCF initiative on VOC non-compliance in the Vecicle Refinish Sector

1. Tom Bowtell
Chief Executive
Solvent abuse in the
UK Vehicle Refinish sector

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British Coatings Federation
• The trade association for UK manufacturers of decorative
coatings, printing inks, powder coatings, industrial
coatings & wallcoverings
• 130 members, representing 95% of market
• 60 associate members
• Leatherhead HQ
• 11 staff
• widely respected and consulted

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BCF: Role/activities
• Regulatory affairs support
• Provide business support eg. Statistics service
• Training for the industry
• Forum for legitimate industry discussions
• Promote the industry’s interests
• Provide an interface with the public and press

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car paint members

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BCF Initiative on
VOC non-
compliance in the
Vehicle Refinish
Sector

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Our objective:
a level playing field for car paints in
the UK

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VOC Paint Product Directive
• 10 years in
• Zero prosecutions
• Widespread non compliance
• Little enforcement
• Unlevel playing field for paint companies,
distributors and bodyshops who invested in water
based technology
• Estimate £30m / 30% of UK basecoat sales are still
solvent based

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VOC Paint Product Directive
• Law is almost impossible to enforce in
distribution
• Stocking solvent based basecoats is
legal, but exemptions abused
– Vintage cars, Motorcycles, Agricultural machinery
• Solvent based basecoats sold illegally
by many distributors for car repair

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Kick off meeting – January
2016• Paint Manufacturers
– AkzoNobel
– Axalta
– BASF
– HMG Paints
– James Briggs
– PPG
– Pronto
– Valspar/Quest
– UPOL
• 3M
• Distributors
– Brown Brothers
– LKQ Coatings
– Morelli Group
– NIBS Group
– ACIS
• Defra
– Keith Crane
• Legal representation
– Fletcher Day

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March 2016 : guidance and poster

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April 2016 : Letter to 400 distribution
outlets

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April 2016 : Letter to 400 distribution
outlets
• Inform about
campaign
• Poster
• Alert to stronger
enforcement
• Warn about
mystery shopping
visits

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Starting June 2016 for 12 months
• 100 visits planned to
VR distributors
• Names of distributors
who sell solvent
based basecoats for
car repair will be
reported to our
members and trading
standards

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June 2016
• Letters to 200 trading
standards offices
• Awareness of
campaign
• Poster and guidance
• Offer to train
• Inform of mystery
shopping

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June/July 2016
• PR campaign in
bodyshop media
• Interviews and
press release
• Continue mystery
shopping

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Q4 2016
• Review progress with paint companies
• Continue mystery shopping
• Encourage Defra / trading standards / local
authorities to promote the campaign and carry out
enforcement
• Publicise results of mystery shopping
• Use mystery shopping results to stimulate local
trading standards activity
• BCF to work closely with Defra / local authorities /
trading standards, pushing for convictions

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2017
• EC review of VOC Paint
Product Directive
• If enforcement doesn’t work,
lobby Defra to push to change
the law
– Push for solvent based
exemptions to be removed
– OR bodyshops / distributors to be
licenced to sell for exempt uses

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Thanks for your attention!