B R I E F S

Bulgarian workshop helps firms prepare for stricter regulations

• In March, 20 representatives from small and medium-sized milk and meat processing companies met in Sofia to take part in the EMTC workshop: "Compliance with the current environmental and health legis-lation for small food production enterprises." The event was held between March 22-27 and was funded by the Small Projects Programme (MATRA KAP) of the Netherlands Embassy in Bulgaria.
  Aside from the lively discussions and lectures, participants worked on constructing individual action plans for bringing their companies in compliance with environmental, health and veterinary regulation requirements. EMTC Bulgaria reports that candidates concluded small enterprises do not yet have the resources to obtain ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 certification although they warmly embrace the idea of introducing more sophisticated quality control systems.
  The idea for a workshop was conceived because development of small and medium sized food production enterprises poses a number of problems connected with the choice of sites for new facilities, official requirements towards buildings, storage facilities and internal traffic. The protection of air, water and soils from contamination by food production facilities is another serious requirement for certification by the competent authorities (Ministry of Environment and Waters). Inspections conducted by EU officials in selected Bulgarian facilities confirmed the need for implementation of action programmes directed towards ISO 9000 certification, which also present an additional challenge to the developing private sector.

Industry reps flock to Polish EMTC training

• In the first half of 1998, a total of 34 participants from all over Poland took part in a course on the principles of environmental impact assessment (EIA), the Polish EMTC reports. Interactive and role-playing techniques were used within the training, which included the fundamental principles of EIA, the framework of EIA programs and the EIA process. Course materials were adapted to meet participants expectations and a new case study was introduced, based on a real-life situation in Poland.
  There were two sessions (of 16 and 18 people) in February and May and four facilitators who conducted each course. Repres-entatives came from varied backgrounds, which led to a dynamic and successful training event. Industry made up 29 percent of representatives, which showed considerable growth from previous courses. It was alarming that local government trainees were only 6 percent of the group, although local elections in September probably account for their absence. Financial difficulties made CSOs the smallest category, with only 2 percent of course attendees coming from that background.
  While participants found the course helpful, they found the case studies rather complicated. Organisers felt that at a group of 20 people on each occasion would have gained maximum advantage from the course, since that would allow working in several smaller groups too.

Assessment and enforcement are most wanted

• Environmental impact assess-ment and environmental enforce-ment courses are the most popular training modules for the Russia-based Center for Environmental Training and Information (CETI), according to information released by the organisation. The sessions, which are part of a project called "Public Involvement in the Regional Environmental Policy," are financed by Replication of Lessons Learned (ROLL). Workshops were carried out in Kamensk, Uralsk, Chelyabinsk, Surgut, Ozersk and Perm. Representatives from the university were the largest group of attendees, at 47 percent, industry took up second place with 28 percent, government organisations made up 19 percent of those present and CSOs were only 6 percent of those on the course. The main topics on the agenda were environmental impact assessment, environ-mental policy, risk assessment and economics for environmental decisionmaking.
  CETI has been selected as the regional center for the ROLL project since December 1997 and cooperates closely with the Moscow Representation of ISC. ROLL's long-term goals are to prevent environmental pollution threatening public health and to facilitate efficient management of the use of nature resources.