EUNIRPA establishes Technical Committee on product standards

Warsaw, January 19th 2017. – Today EUNIRPA, the European Non-Integrated wire Rod Processors Association, at its meeting in Warsaw, established a Technical Committee on product standards. Technical barriers, such as the improper use of product standards, is of critical concern to members of EUNIRPA who have decided to set up an ambitious action plan.

The members of EUNIRPA are pleased about the results achieved in 2016. Although EUNIRPA was created only six months ago, the young association has succeeded in preventing trade barriers that could have dramatically reduced the availability of wire rod in the EU.

In the EU market which is dominated by a handful of fully integrated wire rod producers that offer only limited quantities on the merchant market, EUNIRPA members have been fighting successfully to secure the right to continue to source mesh grade wire rod from independent producers around the world. “One of the main goals of EUNIRPA is to ensure that the EU wire rod market can keep operating in accordance with the principles of fair competition,” said Kris Van Ginderdeuren, President of EUNIRPA.

“But this good news should not blind us. To the contrary, we need to remain alert,” said Van Ginderdeuren. “Fair competition in our industry is not only threatened by the closing of the EU borders to imports through unfair anti-dumping action, but also by the creation of technical barriers through the improper use of product standards, both at national and supra-national levels.” At its meeting in Warsaw, EUNIRPA therefore decided to establish a Technical Committee which will draw up an action plan.

EUNIRPA – Mr Kris Van Ginderdeuren – tel. +31 6 12 39 06 34