Abbreviations
Compiled by G Hayward CChem MRSC MIOSH ATSC
This list of abbreviations relevant to the surface coating sector includes many of the abbreviations in common use. However, it is not comprehensive and readers are invited to submit additional abbreviations to the Editor.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X
Y Z
AAP - Administrative Acceptable Procedure.
AAS - Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy.
ABCB - Association of British Certification Bodies.
AbfallG - Abfallgesetz (German Waste Decree).
ABRAFATI - Brazilian Association of Paint Manufacturers.
ABS/SAN - Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene/Styrene Acrylonitrile.
ACBE - Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment (UK).
ACE - Actions for the Environment Community.
ACGIH - American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.
ACHS - Advisory Committee on Hazardous Substances.
ACL - Approved Carriage List.
ACMSF - Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety in Food.
ACNFP - Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes.
ACOEM - American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
ACOIN - Australian Core Inventory.
ACOP(i) - Approved Code of Practice.
ACOP(ii) - Advisory Committee on Pollution at Sea.
ACORD - Automotive Consortium on Recycling and Disposal (UK).
ACP - Advisory Committee on Pesticides.
ACRE - Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment.
ACS - American Chemical Society.
ACTS - Advisory Committee on Toxic Substances.
ADAS - Agricultural Development and Advisory Service.
ADEME - Environmental Protection Agency (France).
ADI - Acceptable Daily Intake.
ADR - Accord européen relatif au transport international des marchandises dangereuses par route. (European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of dangerous Goods by Road).
AECB - Association for Environmentally Conscious Builders.
AECMA - European Association of Aerospace Industries.
AEME - French Environmental Protection Agency.
AENOR - Spanish Standards Organisation.
AFNOR - French Standards Organisation.
AFRC - Agricultural and Food Research Council.
AGRI - Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development (EC).
AGRS - Committee on Dangerous Materials (Germany).
AGS - Committee on Dangerous Materials (Germany).
AGSD - Advisory Group on Sustainable Development (UK).
AIChE - American Institute of Chemical Engineers.
AICM - Association of International Chemical Manufacturers (Hong Kong).
AICS - Australian Inventory of Chemical Substances.
AIHA - American Industrial Hygiene Association.
AL - Acceptable Limit.
ALI - Annual Limit of Intake.
ALSA - Austrian Federal Contaminated Land Clean-up Law.
ALTENER - Promotion of Renewable Energy Sources.
AND/ADNR - Prescriptions européennes relatives au transport international des marchandises dangereuses par voie de navigation intérieure. (European Agreement for the International Carriage of dangerous Goods by Inland Waterway).
ANEC - European Association for the Co-ordination of Consumer Representation in Standardisation.
ANPA - Italian National Environmental Protection Agency.
ANSI - American National Standards Institute.
ANZEC - Australian & New Zealand Environmental Ministers Council.
APC - Air Pollution Control.
APFTV - Portuguese Association of Paint and Varnish Manufacturers.
API - American Petroleum Institute.
APME - Association Plastics Manufacturers Europe.
APMF - Australian Paint Manufacturers Federation.
APPE - Association of Petrochemical Manufacturers in Europe.
AQ - Air Quality.
AQA - Analytical Quality Assurance.
AQG - Air Quality Guidelines (WHO).
AQMA - Air Quality Management Area (UK).
AQS - Air Quality Standards.
ARL - Acceptable Residue Limit.
ASCE - American Society of Civil Engineers.
ASCIE - American Standard Code for Information Exchange.
ASEFAPI - Spanish Association of the Paint and Printing Inks Manufacturers.
ASL - Approved Supply List.
ASME - American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
ASTM - American Society for Testing and Materials.
ATP - Adaptation to Technical Progress (EU).
ATSD - Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
AVISA - Associazione Vernici, Inchiostri, Adesivi e Sigillanti-Italian Coatings Manufacturers Association.
AWI - Acceptable Weekly Intake.
BABT - British Approvals Board for Telecommunications.
BAP - Biotechnology Action Programme.
BASA - British Adhesives and Sealants Association.
BASEEFA - British Approvals Service for Electrical Equipment in Flammable Atmospheres.
BAT(i) - Best Available Technique.
BAT(ii) - Biologischer Arbeitsstoff-Toleranz Wert – Biological Tolerance Value at the Workplace (Germany).
BATNEEC - Best Available Technique Not Entailing Excessive Cost.
BBA - British Board of Aggrement.
BC - Bulk Cargoes, IMO Sub-Committee on Containers and Cargoes.
BCDTA - British Chemicals Distributors and Traders Association.
BCF(i) - British Coatings Federation.
BCF(ii) - Bio Concentration Factor.
BCMA - British Colour Makers Association.
BCR - EC Reference Bureau (Bureau Communautaire de Reference).
BDAT - Best Demonstrated Available Technique.
BDI - Bundesverband der deutschen Industrie: Federal Industry Association (Germany).
BDT - Best Demonstrated Technology.
BEAMA - Federation of British Electrotechnical & Allied Manufacturers Association.
BEI - Biological Exposure Index.
BEP - Best Environmental Practice.
BEUC - European Bureau of Consumer Unions.
BFMIRA - British Food Manufacturing Industries Research Association.
BgVV - Bundesinstitut für Gesundheitlichen Verbraucherschutz und Veterinärmedizin – German Federal Institute for the Health Protection of Consumers and Veterinary Medicine.
BHT - Butyl HydroxyToluene.
BIBRA - British Industrial Biological Research Association.
BICC - International Building Classification Committee.
BiE - Business in the Environment (UK).
BimSchG - German Federal Pollution Control Act.
BIR - International Recycling Bureau.
BNF - British Nutrition Foundation.
BOD - Biological Oxygen Demand.
BOHS - British Occupational Hygiene Society.
BOTB - British Overseas Trade Board.
BPBIF - British Paper Federation (formerly British paper & Board Industry Federation).
BPD - Biocidal Products Directive.
BPEO - Best Practical Environmental Option.
BPF - British Plastics Federation.
BPM - Best Practicable Means (UK).
BQF - British Quality Foundation.
BRE - Building Research Establishment.
BS - British Standard.
BS CECC - British Standard implementation of a CECC.
BS EN - British Standard implementation of a European Standard.
BS EN ISO - British Standard implementation of a European adoption of an ISO standard.
BS IEC - British Standard implementation of an IEC standard.
BS ISO - British Standard implementation of an ISO standard.
BSB - Biological Oxygen Demand (Germany).
BSI - British Standards Institution.
BSI QSE - BSI Quality Services Europe.
BSI QSI - BSI Quality Services International.
BSS - British Standards Society.
BUDG - Committee on Budgets (EC).
BUWAL - Bundesamt für Umwelt, Wald und Landschaft: Swiss Federal Environment Ministry.
CA - Consumers Association.
CAA - Clean Air Act (US).
CAAA - Clean Air Act Amendments 1990 (USA).
CAME - Canadian Association of Metal Finishers.
CAS - Chemical Abstract Service.
CASCO - Conformity Assessment Policy Committee (ISO).
CAT - Centre for Alternative Technology.
CATNEP - Cheapest Available Technique Not Entailing Prosecution.
CB - Certification Bodies.
CBA - Cost Benefit Analysis.
CBI - Confederation of British Industry.
CBR - Community Bureau of References (EU).
CCC - Consumer Consultation Committee (Europe).
CCI - Colour Confusion Index.
CCME - Council of Ministers of the Environment (Canada).
CCPA - Canadian Chemical Producers Association.
CD(i) - Consultative Document.
CD(ii) - Committee Draft ISO/IEC.
CD-ROM - Compact Disk – Read Only Memory.
CDG - Carriage of Dangerous Goods, IMO Sub-Committee on Containers and Cargoes.
CDG-CPL - Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail (Classification, Packaging, Labelling).
CE Mark - European Conformity Approval Mark.
CEAA - Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency.
CEADS - European Association of Special Waste Industries.
CEC - Commission of the European Communities.
CEE - Central and Eastern Europe.
CEFIC - European Council of Chemical Manufacturers' Federation. (Conseil Européen des Federations de I'Industrie Chimique).
CELECX - Database of EC Law and Legislation.
CEN - European Committee for Standardisation (Comité de European Normalisation).
CEN/TC - CEN Technical Committee.
CENCER - Certification Committee of CEN.
CENELEC - European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation.
CEPA(i) - Canadian Environmental Protection Act.
CEPA(ii) - Commonwealth Environment Protection Agency (Australia).
CEPE - European Committee of Paints, Printing Ink and Artists' Colour Manufacturers'.
CEPI - Confederation of European Paper Industries.
CEQ - Council on Environmental Quality.
CERCLA - Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (Superfund, USA).
CERTICO - ISO Committee on Certification.
CFC - Chlorofluorocarbon.
CFI - Court of First Instance (EC).
CFSAN - Centre for Food Safety and Nutrition (USA).
CHCS - Chemical Hazards Communication Society.
CHIP(i) - Chemical Hazard Information Profile (USA).
CHIP(ii) - Chemical (Hazard Information Packaging) Regulations.
CIA - Chemical Industries Association.
CICM - Chemical Industries Council of Malaysia.
CIE - International Institute for Water.
CIEH - Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (UK).
CIG - Common Interest Group (CEFIC).
CIIT - Chemical Industry Institute of Toxicology (USA).
CIMAH - Control of Industrial Major Accident Hazards.
CITEPA - Interprofessional Technical Centre for the Study of Atmospheric Pollution (France).
CITPA - European Confederation of Paper Converting Industry.
CJEC - Court of Justice of the European Communities (EC).
CLAD - Concise International Assessment Document.
CLAW - Control of Lead at Work (Regulations).
CLEA - Contaminated Land Exposure Assessment.
CMA - Chemical Manufacturers Association (USA).
CMR - Carcinogenic, Mutagenic, and Repro-toxic (substances).
CMT - Carcinogenic, Mutagenic, and Toxic to reproduction (substances).
CNCIC - China National Chemical Information Centre.
CNS - Central Nervous System.
CNTRL - Control Limit.
COC - Cleveland Open Cup.
COD - Chemical Oxygen Demand.
CoE - Council of Europe.
COFRAC - Comite Français d’Accreditation (French Accreditation Body).
COMAH - Control Of Major Accident Hazards.
CONCAWE - The oil companies' International Study Group on Conservation of Clean Air and Water, Europe.
CONEG - Coalition of North Eastern Governors (USA).
CONT - Committee on Budgetary Control (EC).
COPOLCO - ISO Committee on Consumer Policy.
COREPER - Committee of Permanent Representatives (EU).
CORINAIR - Sub-programme compiling a coordinated inventory of atmospheric emissions in order to contribute to the solution of the problem of local and transfrontier atmospheric pollution.
CORINE - COoRdination of INformation on the Environment (European Commission programme).
CORINEAU - Sub-programme CORINE establishing an EU database and information network on water resources.
COSHH - Control of Substances Hazardous to Health.
COSQUEC - Council for Occupational Standards and Qualifications in Environmental Conservation.
COT - Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment.
CP - Code of Practice.
CPD - Construction Products Directive.
CPL - Classification, Packaging and Lebelling.
CPOA - Control of Pollution Act.
CPSC - Consumer Products Safety Committee (US).
CRI - Chemical Release Inventory (UK).
CRM - Committee for Medical and Public Health Research.
CSA - Canadian Standards Association.
CSB - Chemical Oxygen Demand (Germany).
CSC - Commission de la Sécurité des Comsommateurs (French Consumer Safety Commission).
CSD - Commission on Sustainable Development.
CSI - Coating Societies International.
CSTE - Scientific Advisory Committee to Examine the Toxicity and Ecotoxicity of Chemical Compounds (EU).
CTG - Control Techniques Guidelines (USA).
CWC - Chemical Weapons Convention.
CZM - Coastal Zone Management.
DABAK - Danish national accreditation authority.
DAC - Derived Air Concentration.
DANI - Department of Agriculture Northern Ireland.
DBP - Dibutyl phthalate.
DC - Draft for Comment.
DD - Draft for Development.
DEF - Defence Specification (UK).
DEFSTAN - Defence Standards (UK).
DEHA - Diethylhexyl adipate.
DEMOS - DTI Environmental Management Options Scheme.
DETR - Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.
DEVCO - ISO Committee on Developing Countries.
DEVE - Committee on Development and Cupertino (EC).
DFE - Design For the Environment.
DG - Directorate General.
DGCT - Directorate General for Working Conditions (Portugal).
DGIII - Department for Internal Market and Industrial Affairs (EC).
DGXI - Department for Environment, Consumer Protection and Nuclear Safety (EC).
DH - Department of Health.
DIN - German Standards Organisation.
DIS - Draft International Standard (ISO).
DLL - Dynamic Link Library.
DOA - Date of Announcement.
DoE - Department of the Environment.
DoH - Department of Health.
DOP(i) - Dioctyl Phthalate.
DOP(ii) - Latest date for national adoption of European standards or endorsements.
DOT - Department Of Transport (USA).
DPC - Draft for Public Comment.
DPD - Dangerous Preparations Directive (EU).
DPR - Decree of the President of the Republic (Italy).
DRVs - Dietary Reference Values.
DS(i) - Detail Specification.
DS(ii) - Dansk Standardiseringsrad – Danish standardisation body.
DSD(i) - Dangerous Substances Directive (EU).
DSD(ii) - Duales System Deutschland: Packaging Recycling Scheme (Germany).
DSHA - Dangerous Substances in Harbour Area Regulations (UK).
DSL - Domestic Substances List (Canada).
DTI - Department of Trade and Industry.
DTL - Dangerous Toxic Load.
DTR(i) - Draft Technical Report (ISO).
DTR(ii) - Road Traffic (Training of Drivers of Vehicles Carrying Dangerous Goods Regulations (UK).
E Marks - European Safety Approval Marks.
EA - Environmental Assessment.
EAC(i) - Emergency Action Code (Hazchem).
EAC(ii) - European Accreditation for Certification.
EAL - European Cupertino for Accreditation of Laboratories.
EAP - European Action Programme.
EARA - Environmental Auditors Registration Association.
EASE - Estimation and Assessment of Substance Exposure.
EAST - European Academy of Science and Technology.
EASTT - European Advisory Service for Technology Transfer (CEFIC).
EC(i) - European Communities.
EC(ii) - European Commission.
ECB - European Chemicals Bureau (Ispra).
ECCA - European Coil Coaters Association.
ECCC(i) - European Coastal Conservation Conference.
ECCC(ii) - European Communities Chemistry Committee.
ECDIN - Environmental Chemicals Data and Information Network (EU).
ECE - Economic Commission for Europe.
ECEH - European Centre for Environmental Health (WHO).
ECETOC - European Chemical Industry Ecology and Toxicology Centre.
ECJ - European Court of Justice.
ECMRA - European Chemical Market Research Association.
ECOFIN - European Finance Ministers’ Council.
ECOIN - European Core Inventory.
ECON - Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy (EC).
ECOSA - European Consumer Safety Association.
ECOSOC - Economic and Social Council (UN).
ECPI - European Council for Plasticisers and Intermediates.
ECSA - European Chlorinated Solvents Association.
ECSC - European Coal and Steel Community.
EDI - Expected (or estimated) Daily Intake.
EEA(i) - European Economic Area.
EEA(ii) - European Environment Agency.
EEB - European Environment Bureau.
EEC - European Economic Community.
EECS - Electrical Equipment Certification Service (Branch of Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
EEHC - European Environmental Health Committee.
EFTA - European Free Trade Association.
EHAPE - Environmental Health Action Plan for Europe.
EHC - Environmental Health Criteria (JPCS).
EHRI - Environmental Health Risk Indicator (UK).
EIA - Environmental Impact Assessment.
EINECS - European Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances.
EIONET - Environmental Information & Observation Network (European Environment Agency).
EIS - Environmental impact statement.
ELINCS - European List of Notified Chemical Substances.
ELOT - Greek standardisation body.
ELPAT - Environmental Lead Proficiency Analytical Testing (USA).
ELV - Emission Limit Value.
EMAS - Eco-Management and Audit Scheme.
EMEP - European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme.
EMS - Environmental Management Standard.
EMSG - Endocrine Modulators Steering Group.
EN - European Standard-Technical specifications.
ENCS - Existing and New Chemical Substances (MITI, Japan).
ENER - Committee on Energy, Research and Technology (EC).
ENRM - Environment and Natural Resource Management.
ENVI - Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer protection (EC).
EOTC - European Organisation for Testing and Certification.
EP - European Parliament.
EPA(i) - Environmental Protection Act (UK).
EPA(ii) - Environmental Protection Agency (US).
EPA(iii) - Environmental Protection Authority (Australia).
EPDLA - European Polymer Dispersions and Latex Association.
EPE - Environmental performance evaluation.
EPI - Environmental performance indicators.
EPRA - European Phenolic Resins Association.
EPS - Expanded polystyrene.
EQO - Environmental Quality Objective.
EQS(i) - Environmental Quality Standard.
EQS(ii) - European Committee for Quality Assessment and Certification.
ERCS - Emergency response communication standard (USA).
ERIN - Environmental Resource Information Network (Australia).
ERL - Extraneous Residue Limit.
ERMA - European Resin Manufacturers Association.
ERRA - European Recovery & Recycling Association.
ES(i) - Environmental Standard.
ES(ii) - European Specification.
ES(iii) - Environmental Statement.
ESA - Environmentally sensitive area.
ESC - Economic and Social Committee (EU).
ESCAP - Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.
ESF - European Science Foundation.
ESR - Existing Substances Regulation (EEC) No 793/93.
ESRA - European Synthetic Rubber Association.
ESRC - Economic and Social Research Council.
ETA(i) - European Technical Approval.
ETA(ii) - Estimated Time of Arrival.
ETAD - Ecological and Toxicological Association of the Dyestuffs Industry (Europe).
ETBPP - Environmental Technology Best Practice Programme.
ETC - European Topic Centres.
ETUC - European Trade Union Congress (EU).
EUCLID - European Chemical Information Database.
EUR-OP - Office for Official Publications of the EC previously (OPEC).
EURODICAUTOM - Multilingual terminology databank (EC Commission translation service).
EUROLAB - Organisation for Testing in Europe.
EUROPEN - European Organisation for Packaging and the Environment.
EUROSTAT - Statistical Office of the EU.
EWC - European Waste Catalogue.
EWPCA - European Water Pollution Control Association.
FAC - Food Advisory Committee (UK).
FAO - Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions.
FCA - Food Contact Additives Panel (CEFIC).
FCCC - Framework Convention on Climate Change (UN).
FCIO - Fachverband der Chemischen Industrie Osterreichs Chemical Industry Association, (Austria).
FCSC - Freight Containers (Safety Convention) Regulations (UK).
FDA - Food and Drug Administration (US).
FDIS - Final Draft International Standard (ISO/IEC).
FDLF - Danish Association of Paint Manufacturers.
FEAD - European Federation of Waste Management.
FECC - European Federation of Chemical Trade.
FEDERCHIMICA - Italian Chemical Industry Association
FEI - Federation of the Electronics Industry (UK).
FEICA - Federation of European Adhesive Manufacturers.
FEIQUE - Spanish Chemical Industry Association.
FEPA - Food and Environmental Protection Act (UK).
FESCID - European Federation of Chemical & General Workers’ Union.
FIA - Fibre-optic Industry Association.
FICBIFCN - Belgian Chemical Industries Association (Belgium).
FICI - Federation of Irish Chemical Industry.
FID - Flame ionisation detector.
FIFRA - Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (USA).
FINAS - Finnish national accreditation authority.
FIPEC - Federation des Industries des Peintures, Encres, Couleurs, Colles, et Adhesifs: French Federation of the Paints, Inks, Colours, Glues, and Adhesives Industries.
FIRA - Furniture Industry Research Association.
FOEE - Friends of the Earth Europe.
FOEI - Friends of the Earth International.
FONSI - Finding of no significant impact.
FOREST - Research and Development Programme on Renewable Raw Materials (EU).
FORTRAN - Formula Translation Programming Language.
FR - Federal Register (USA).
FT-NMR - Fourier Transformation-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance.
FTP - File Transfer Protocol.
FYROM - Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia.
GAMBICA - Association for the Instrumentation, Control and Automation Industry (UK).
GATT - General Agreement on Tariff and Trade.
GC - Gas Chromatography.
GC-MS - Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry.
GCP - Good Clinical Practice.
GEF - Global Environment Facility.
GefstV - German Dangerous Substances Ordinance.
GEMS - Global Environment Monitoring System.
GESAMP - Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Pollution.
GGAV - Gefahrgutausnahmeverordnung: Dangerous Goods Exemption Ordinance (Germany).
GHG - Green House Gas.
GIPME - Global Investigation on Pollution in the Marine Environment.
GL - Guideline Level.
GLC - Gas-Liquid Chromatography.
GLOBE - Global Legislators’ Organisation for a Balanced Environment.
GLP - Good Laboratory Practice.
GMP - Good Manufacturing Practice.
GRAS - Generally Regarded As Safe (USA).
GS - Geprufte Sicherheit mark (German safety mark).
GWP - Global Warming Potential.
HACCP - Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point.
HARMQ - Harmful Quantity.
HARRPA - Hydrocarbons and Rosin Resin Producers Association.
HASAWA - Health and Safety at Work Act.
HAZCHEM - A UK scheme for marking vehicles carrying dangerous goods.
HAZOP - Hazard and Operability Study.
HCFC - Hydrochlorofluorocarbon.
HCS - Hazard Communication Standard (USA).
HDPE - High Density Polyethylene.
HEDSET - Harmonised Electronic Data Sets.
HELCOM - Helsinki Commission.
HFC - Hydrofluorocarbon.
HHW - Household Hazardous Waste.
HIA - Health impact assessment.
HIN - Hazard identification Number (Kemmler Code).
HLV - Hygienic Limit Value.
HMIP - Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution.
HMIS - Hazardous Materials Identification System (USA).
HNS - Hazardous and Noxious Substances Convention (IMO).
HPLC - High Performance Liquid Chromatography.
HPSEC - High Performance Size Exclusion Chromatography.
HSC - Health and Safety Commission.
HSE - Health and Safety Executive.
HSWA(i) - Health and Safety at Work Act (UK).
HSWA(ii) - Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendment (US).
HTML - Hyper Text Marking Language.
HTTP - HyperText Transfer Protocol.
IACA - International Air Carriers Association.
IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency.
IAF - International Accreditation Forum.
IAIA - International Association for Impact Assessment.
IARC - International Agency for Research on Cancer.
IATA - International Air Transport Association.
IAWC - International Association on Water Quality.
IBGE - Brussels Institute for Managing the Environment.
IBN - Institut Beige de Normalisation - Belgian standardisation body.
ICAO - International Civil Aviation Organisation.
ICEL - International Council of Environmental Law.
ICMA - Indian Chemical Manufacturers Association.
ICNIRP - International Commission on Non-lonising Radiation Protection.
ICONE - Comparative Index of National and European Standards (EU).
ICSU - International Council of Scientific Unions.
ICWE - International Conference on Water and the Environment.
IDICT - Institute for the Improvement and Inspection of Working Conditions (Portugal).
IEA - Institute of Environmental Assessment.
IEEP - Institute for European Environmental Policy.
IEH - Institute for Environment and Health.
IEPA - Irish Environmental Protection Agency.
IFCS - International Forum on Chemical Safety.
IGC - Inter-Governmental Conference.
IHF - Industrial health Foundation (USA).
IIASA - International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis.
IIOC - Independent International Organisation for Certification.
ILAC - International Laboratory Accreditation Conference.
ILGRA - Interdepartmental Liaison Group on Risk Assessment.
ILO - International Labour Organisation.
ILV - Indicative Limit Value.
IMCO - Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation.
IMDG Code - International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code.
IMO - International Maritime Organisation.
IMPEL - EU Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law.
INCPEN - Industrial Council for Packaging and the Environment (UK).
INRS - Institut National de Recherche et de Sécurité (France).
IOCU - International Organisation of Consumers’ Union.
IOSH - Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.
IP - Institute of Petroleum (UK).
IPC - Integrated Pollution Control.
IPCC - International Panel on Climate Change.
IPCS - International Programme on Chemical Safety.
IPPC - Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control.
IPPIC - International Paint and Printing Ink Council.
IPQ - Portuguese Quality Institute.
IQA - Institute of Quality Assurance (UK).
IQCL - Industrial Quality Control Laboratory (Portugal).
IR - Infra-red.
IRB - International Reclamation Bureau.
IRCA - International Register of Certified Auditors.
IRPTC - International register of Potentially Toxic Chemicals (UNEP).
IRU - International Road Transport Union.
ISBN - International Standard Book Numbering.
ISDN - Integrated Service Digital Network.
ISO - International Organisation for Standardisation.
ISO BT - Technical Board of ISO.
ISO/CD - ISO Committee Draft.
ISO/DIS - ISO draft international standard.
ISO/DTR - ISO Draft Technical Report.
ISO/IEC - Joint ISO/IEC standard.
ISO/SC - ISO Subcommittee.
ISO/TC - ISO Technical Committee.
ISO/TMB - ISO Technical Management Board.
ISO/TR - ISO Technical Report.
ISONET - ISO Information Network.
ISP - Internet Service Provider.
ISP - International Standardized Profile.
ISWA - International Solid Wastes Association.
IT - Information Technology.
ITA - Industry Technical Agreement (ISO).
ITU - International Telecommunication Union.
IUPAC - International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.
IVDK - Informationsverbund Dermatologische Kliniken: Dermatological Clinics Information Association (Germany).
IVW - Swedish Environmental Research Institute.
IWIC - International Waste Identification Code.
JANUS - Community Information System for Health and Safety at Work (EU).
JCIA - Japan Chemical Industry Association.
JIT - Just In Time.
JRC - Joint Research Centre (EU, existing in Ispra, Italy; Geel, Belgium; Pette, Holland; Karlsruhe, Germany).
JSA - Japanese Standards Association.
JSOH - Japanese Society for Occupational Health.
JTC - Joint Technical Committee.
KT - Chemical Society (Finland).
LA - Local Authority.
LAAPC - Local Authority Air Pollution Control.
LAN - Local Area Networks.
LC50 - Lethal Concentration (in atmosphere) for 50% Test Animals.
LCA - Life Cycle Analysis.
LCI - Life Cycle Inventory.
LCLo - Lowest published lethal concentration.
LD50 - Lethal dose for 50% Test Animals.
LDLo - Lowest published lethal dose.
LDPE - Low Density Polyethylene.
LEHAP - Local Environmental Health Action Plan (UK).
LEL(i) - Lower Explosive Limit.
LEL(ii) - Local Exhaust Ventilation.
LGW - Luftgrenzwerte: Air Limit Values (Germany).
LIFE - Financial Instrument for the Environment.
LLDPE - Linear Low Density Polyethylene.
LMBG - Lebensmittel-und Bedarfgegeständegesetz: German Food and Essential Goods Decree.
LNE - Laboratoire National d’Essais (French National Testing Laboratory).
LOAEL - Lowest Observable Adverse Effect Level.
LPG - Liquefied Petroleum Gas.
LRTAP - Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (Convention).
MAC - Maximum Accepted Concentration.
MAFF - Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
MAHB - Major Accident Hazards Bureau (EU).
MAK - Maximum Allowable Concentration (Germany).
MAPP - Major Accident Prevention Policy.
MARPOL - International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships.
MARS - Major Accident Reporting System.
MASAQHE - Major action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.
MCI - Ministry of Chemical Industry (China).
MCS - Multiple Chemical Sensitivity.
MDHS - Method for the Determination of Hazardous Substances (UK).
MDS - Material Data Sheet.
MEL - Maximum Exposure Limit (UK).
MEP - Member of the European Parliament (EC).
MEPC - Marine Environment Protection Committee.
MHSWR - Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (UK).
MITI(i) - Japanese Inventory of Chemical Substances.
MITI(ii) - Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Japan).
MoD - Ministry of Defence (UK).
MODEM - MOdulator/DEModulator.
MOU - Memorandum Of Understanding.
MPA - Maternity Protection Act (Ireland).
MPC - Maximum Permissible Concentration.
MRA - Mutual Recognition Agreement.
MRC - Medical Research Council (UK).
MRL - Maximum Residue Level.
MRM - Mechanically Recovered Meat.
MS - Mass Spectrometry.
MSC - Maritime Safety Committee (IMO).
MSDS - Material Safety Data Sheet.
MTC - Maximum Tolerable Concentration.
MTO - Mutual Trade Organisation.
N.O.S. - Not otherwise specified.
NA - Not Applicable.
NAAQS - National Ambient Air Quality Standard (USA).
NACE - National Association of Corrosion Engineers (USA).
NAFTA - North American Free Trade Agreement (USA, Canada, Mexico).
NAMAS - National Measurement Accreditation Scheme.
NAPIM - National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers (US).
NAWDC - National Association of Waste Disposal Contractors.
NCC - National Consumer Council.
NCSRP - National Contaminated Sites Remediation Program (Canada).
NDNS - National Diet and Nutritional Survey.
NDT - Non-Destructive Testing.
NEAP - National Environmental Action Plan.
NEEC - Not Entailing Excessive Cost.
NEHAP - National Environmental Health Action Plan (UK).
NEL - No-Effect Level.
NEPA - National Environmental Protection Agency (China).
NEPP - Dutch National Environmental Policy Plan.
NEQA - National Environmental Quality Act (Thailand).
NER - Dutch Directives on Emissions into the Atmosphere.
NERC - National Environmental Research Council.
NESHAP - National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (USA).
NETT - Network for Environmental Technology Transfer (EU).
NEWO - National Expert Working Group (EU).
NF - Marque francaise de normalisation (French standardisation mark).
NFPA - National Fire Protection Association (US).
NFS - National Food Survey.
NGO - Non-governmental Organisation.
NIGNAS - National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (Australia).
NIMBY - "Not in my back yard" syndrome.
NIOSH - National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
NIR - Near Infrared.
NISU - National Injury Surveillance Unit (Australia).
NLLAP - National Lead Laboratory Accreditation Programme (USA).
NNI - Nederlands Normalisatie-institut - Dutch Standardisation Body.
NOAEL - No Observable Adverse Effect Level.
NOEL - No Observable Effect Level.
NOM - Norma Official Mexicana (Mexico).
NONS - Notification of New Substances (UK).
NORSPA - Community action for the protection of the environment in coastal areas and coastal waters of the Irish sea, North sea, Baltic sea, and North-East Atlantic ocean.
NOx - Nitrogen Oxides.
NPCA - National Paint and Coatings Association (US).
NPCA - National Paint and Coatings Association (USA).
NPI - National Pollution Inventory (Australia).
NPL - National Physical Laboratory (UK).
NRA - National Rivers Authority (UK).
NRE - Natural Resources and Environment (UK).
NSAI - National Standards Authority of Ireland.
NSB - National Standards Bodies.
NSS - National Surveillance Scheme.
NTO - National Training Organisation.
NTP - National Toxicology Programme (USA).
NVCA - Association of Processors of Chemical Waste Substances (Netherlands).
NZCIC - New Zealand Chemical Industry Council.
OAS - Organisation of American States.
OCCA - Oil and Colour Chemists' Association.
ODP - Ozone Depletion Potential.
OECD - Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
OEL - Occupational Exposure Limit.
OEM - Original Equipment Manufacture.
OES - Occupational Exposure Standard (UK).
OHS - Occupational Health & Safety.
OJ - Official Journal.
OJEC - Official Journal of the European Communities.
OM - Overall Migration.
OOPEC - Office for Official Publications of the EC.
OPRA - Operator Performance and Risk Appraisal.
OPS - Organo-Psycho Syndrome.
OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Administration (US).
OSHEB - Occupational Safety and Health Lead Body (UK).
OSPA - Oxygenated Solvents Producers Association.
OSPAR - Oslo and Paris Commissions (Conventions for the Prevention of Marine Pollution).
OTS - Office of Toxic Substances (US).
P&P - Postage and Packing.
PACIA - Plastics and Chemicals Industries Associations (Australia).
PARCOM - Paris Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution.
PC - Personal Computer.
PCA - Paper Chemicals Association.
PCB - Pentachlorinated Bipheny.
PCE - Perchioroethylene.
PCP - Pentachlorophenol.
PEC - Predicted Environmental Concentration.
PECP - Potential Environmental Crisis Points.
PED - Pressure Equipment Directive-Commission of the European Communities.
PEL - Permissible Exposure Limit.
PER - Polluting Emissions Register.
PET - Poly(ethylene terephthalate).
PGN - Process Guidance Note.
PGR - Packaged Goods Regulations.
PIAC - Printing Ink Advisory Committee (to HSE).
PIB - Poly(isobutylene).
PIC - Prior Informed Consent (UNEP/FAO/EU scheme).
PII - Primary Irritation Index.
PIL - Prosiss og Foredlingsindustriens Landsforning: Federation of Norwegian Process and Manufacturing Industries.
PIN - Personal Identification Number.
PIRA - Research Association for the Paper and Board, Printing and Packaging Industries.
PITA - Paper Industry Technical Association.
PM - Particulate Matter (i.e. PM10 Particulate Matter of diameter 10 micrometers or less).
PMCC - Pensky Martens Closed Cup.
PNEC - Predicted No Effect Concentration.
POC - Persistent Organic Compound.
POCP - Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential
POD - Print On Demand.
PoP(i) - Point of Presence.
POP(ii) - Persistent Organic Pollutants.
ppb - Parts per billion (v/v).
PPE - Personal Protective Equipment.
PPEWR - Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations (UK).
pph - Parts per hundred (v/v).
ppm - Parts per million (v/v).
PPP - Polluter Pays Principle.
ppt(i) - Parts per trillion (v/v).
ppt(ii) - Precipitate.
PRA(i) - Paint Research Association.
PRA(ii) - Plasticiser Range Alcohols.
PrA(iii) - Draft European amendment.
PRG - Producer Responsibility Group (UK).
PS - Polystyrene.
PSD - Pesticides Safety Directorate.
PSL - Preliminary Safety Level.
PTWI - Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake.
PUWER - Provisional and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (UK).
PVC - Poly(vinyl chloride).
PWS - Priority Waste Stream.
QA - Quality Assurance.
QAS - Quality Assessment Schedule.
QC(i) - Quality Components.
QC(ii) - Quality Control.
Qm values - Maximum quantity limit values (EU).
QMS - Quality Management Systems.
QRA - Quantified Risk Analysis.
QSAR - Quality System Assessment Recognition Programme (ISO/IEC).
QSR - Quality Status Report.
R&D - Research and Development.
R&TD - Research and Technological Development.
RACT - Reasonably Available Control Technology (USA).
RAM - Random Access Memory.
RAPRA - Rubber and Plastics Research Association (UK).
RC - Responsible Care.
RCEP - Royal Commission in Environmental Pollution (UK).
RCF - Regenerated Cellulose Film.
RCRA - Resource Conservation & Recovery Act (USA).
RDA - Recommended Daily Allowance.
RECL - Recommended Limit.
REWARD - Specific research and technological development programme of the EU in the fields of raw materials and recycling.
RIBA - Royal Institute of British Architects.
RID - Règlement concernant le transport international ferroviaire des marchandises dèngereauses. (Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail).
RIDDOR - Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations.
RNE - Réseau national d’essais (former French Accreditation Body for laboratories, now included in COFRAC).
RNI - Reference Nutrient Intake.
ROM - Read Only Memory.
ROSPA - Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (UK).
RP - Rule of Procedure.
RPE - Respiratory Protective Equipment.
RSC - Royal Society of Chemistry.
RSI - Repetitive Strain Injury.
RTECS - Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (US).
RTR - Road Traffic (Carriage of Dangerous Substances in Road Tankers and Tank Containers) Regulations.
SAD(i) - Seasonal Affective Disorder (Winter depression).
SAD(ii) - Single Administrative Document.
SAFE - Safety Action For Europe.
SAGE - Senior Advisory Policy Group – Environment.
SARA - Superfund Amendments and Reauthorisation Act (USA).
SBPIM - Society of British Printing Ink Manufacturers.
SC - Sub Committee.
SCAQMD - South Coast Air Quality Management District (USA).
SCC - Standardisation and Certification Committee.
SCEEMAS - Small Companies EC Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (UK).
SCF - Scientific Committee for Food.
SCHC - Society for Chemical Hazard Communication (USA).
SCHIP - Standing Committee on Hazard Information and Packaging.
SCI(i) - Society of Chemical Industry (UK).
SCI(ii) - Steel Construction Institute (UK).
SCIC - Singapore Chemical Industries Council.
SCOEL - DG V Scientific Committee for OELs.
SCOPE - Scientific Committee On Problems of the Environment.
SCSI - Small Computer Systems Interface.
SDS(i) - Sustainable Development Strategy.
SDS(ii) - Safety Data Sheet.
SEA - Single European Act (EC).
SECOFI - Mexican national accreditation authority.
SEDUE - Mexican Environmental Agency.
SEM - Single European Market.
SEPA - Scottish Environment Protection Agency (UK).
SETA - Setaflash Closed Tester.
SG - Sub Group.
SHE - Safety, Health and the Environment.
SI(i) - Statutory Instrument (UK).
SI(ii) - Sensory Irritation.
SIA - Solvents Industry Association.
SIDS - Screening Information Data Sets (existing chemicals OECD).
SIN - Substance Identification Number.
SLOT - Specified Level of Toxicity.
SME - Small and Medium Enterprises.
SML - Specific Migration Limit.
SMMT - Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (UK).
SOLAS - International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea.
SPI - Society of the Plastics Industry.
SSPC - Steel Structure Painting Council (US).
SSSI - Site of Special Scientific Interest.
ST - Toy Safety Standard (Japan).
STEL - Short Term Exposure Limit.
STEP - Science and Technology for Environmental Protection (European Commission).
StörfallV - German Major Hazard Ordinance.
SUPERFUND - See CERCLA
SWEDAC - Swedish Board for Accreditation and Conformity Assessment.
TA-Luft - Air Quality Emission Controls (Germany).
TAS - Technology Approval Schedule.
TASC - Training Alliance for Surface Coatings.
TBT(i) - Tributyl tin.
TBT(ii) - Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement (WTO).
TC - Technical Committee.
TCC - Tag Closed Cup.
TCCL - The Toxic Chemicals Law (S. Korea).
TCE - Trichioroethylene.
TCMA - Toxic Chemicals Management Association (S. Korea).
TD - Toxic Dose.
TDI - Tolerable Daily Intake.
TDS - Total Diet Study.
TEC - Technical and Environmental Committee (APME).
TEQ - Toxic Equivalent.
TF - Task Force.
TGIC - Triglycidyl isocyanurate.
TIQCA - Testing Inspection Calibration and Quality Assurance database (EOTC).
TIR - Transit International par Route.
TLV - Threshold Limit Value.
TLVC - Threshold Limit Value-Ceiling.
TMB - Technical Management Board (ISO).
TOC(i) - Total Organic Compound.
TOC(ii) - Total Organic Carbon.
TOC(iii) - Tag Open Cup.
TOD - Total Oxygen Demand.
TORC - Threshold of Regulatory Concern.
TQM - Total Quality Management.
TR - Technical Report (ISO/IEC/ETSI).
TRADA - Timber Research & Development Association (UK).
TRbF - Technische Regel für brennbare flussigkeiten: Technical Rule for flammable Liquids (Germany).
TREMCARD - Transport Emergency Card.
TRGS - Technische Regel für Gefahrstoffen: Technical Rule on Dangerous Substances (Germany).
TRI - Toxic Release Inventory.
TRK - Technische Richtkonzentrationen: Technical Standard Concentrations (Germany).
TS - Turkish Standards Institute mark of conformity to safety standards.
TSCA - Toxic Substances Control Act (US).
TUV - Technisches öberwachungsverein – an independent testing laboratory based in Germany.
TWA - Time Weighted Average.
TWD - Tactile Warning of Danger.
UBA - Umweltbundesamt: Federal Environment Agency (Austria).
UCATT - Union of Construction Allied Trades and Technicians (UK).
UEL - Upper Explosive Limit.
UKAS - UK national Accreditation authority.
UKEHAP - UK Environmental Health Action Plan.
ULD - Upper Limb Disorder.
UN - United Nations.
UN Number - Identification Number for Dangerous Substances.
UNCED - United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.
UNCHE - United Nations Conference on the Human Environment.
UNCTAD - United Nations Commission on Trade and Development.
UNECE - UN Economic Commission for Europe.
UNEP - United Nations Environment Programme
UNESCO - UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organiszation.
UNICE - Union of Industries of Industrial & Employerõs Confederations of Europe.
UNIDO - UN Industrial Development Organisation
URL - Uniform Resource Locator.
US - United States of America.
USA - United States of America.
USDA - United States Department of Agriculture.
UV - Ultraviolet.
UVCB - Unknown of variable composition, complex reaction products and biological materials.
VAT - Value Added Tax.
VbF - Verordnung über brennbare flussigkeiten: flammable Liquids Ordinance (Germany).
VBRA - Vehicle Builders' and Repairers Association (UK).
VCI - Verband der Chemischen Industrie: German Federation of the Chemical Industry.
VCM - Vinyl chloride monomer.
VdL - Verband der Lackindustrie: German Federation of the Paint Industry.
VDU - Visual Display Unit.
VEEP - Voluntary Energy Efficiency Programme.
VGF - German flammable Liquids Regulations.
VHAP - Volatile Hazardous Air Pollutant.
VLE - Limit Exposure Value (France).
VME - Average Limit Exposure Value (France).
VNCI - Verenigung van de Nederlandse Chemische Industrie: Netherlands Chemical Industry Association.
VOC - Volatile Organic Compound.
VOCC - Volatile Organic Compound Content.
VSLF - Association of Swiss Paint Manufacturers.
VVO - German Packaging Ordinance.
VVVF - Dutch Paintmakers Association.
WATCH - Working Group on the Assessment of Toxic Chemicals.
WCED - World Commission on Environment and Development (UN).
WCRP - World Climate Research Programme.
WDA - Waste Disposal Authority.
WEC - World Environment Centre.
WEEL - Workplace Environmental Exposure Level (USA).
WG - Working Group.
WGK - Wassergefährdungsklasse: water hazard class (Germany).
WHO - World Health Organisation.
WHSWR - Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations.
WICE - World Industry Council for the Environment.
WICS - Water Industry Certification Scheme (UK).
WIS - Water Industry Specifications (UK).
WMO - World Meteorological Organisation.
WOME - Committee on Women's Rights (EC).
WRA - Waste Regulation Authority.
WRC - Welding Research Council (USA).
WRULD - Work-Related Upper Limb Disorder.
WTO - World Trade Organisation.
WWF - World Wide Fund for Nature.
WWW - World-Wide Web.
YL - Air Demand Value (Sweden).
