WATCH YOUR EYES -  NEW ESA CONSUMER FILM

European Sunglasses Consumers

One of the most important missions of the European Sunglasses Association is to increase the awareness of end-consumers for good eye protection from UV. The new consumer film is, beside the education book "Sunglass Instructor", one of the important tools to assist ESA members from the industry and the retail business.

Concerning the health of children, e.g. the Wolrd Health Organization WHO set up a Task Force for the Protection of Children's Environmental Health in July 1999 http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs261/en/. Its objectives are to raise the awareness of member states and the general public. Protecting children from harmful ultraviolet radiation is one of the topics covered by the Task Force's activities.

It's obvious that beyond the health benefits, effective education programmes can strengthen national economies by reducing the financial burden to health care systems caused by skin cancer and cataract treatments. Therefore ESA produced a video to inform and educate primarily end-consumers and opticians as well about important aspects of eye protection via sunglasses.

ESA objective: increase the growth of the European sunglass market

In Europe only 64 % of the population wears Sunglasses. To support the growth and the development of the European sunglass business ESA assists its members through relevant projects: training & education, marketing & communication, official participation at CEN and ISO committees, market research studies etc.  One of the training and marketing tools as well is the new film.

Applications of the film

The ESA video can be used at the point-of-sale (optician stores), on websites, can be presented during fairs and exhibitions, presentations, as an instrument for education and training courses at universities, technical schools, and not at least as a tool for the internal training of members. After having seen the video the audience knows that sunglasses contribute to a wrinkle free skin and healthy eyes...

Where and how to order the film

The film can be ordered in different languages: in english, french, italian, spanish, german. It will be available in autumn, so that it is applicable for spring 2007. Please contact office@esa-sunglasses.com.

ESA YEARLY CONFERENCE 2006 

The European Sunglass Association hosted its Yearly Conference in Vienna on 8th and 9th June.  Participants from all over the world joined the conference, including Tibor Gross, President of SAA Sunglass Association of America, William C. Thomas, CEO from VCA, Francesco Gili, General Secretary of ANFAO, Peter Frankenstein, Head Consumer Optics SPECTARIS and 40 ESA Members from Denmark, France, Germany, England, Italy, Spain and the United States.

ESA President, Rod Lane, welcomed all guests to two very informative days (s. Conference Agenda) which included a various number of speeches concerning up to date economical and health topics and questions of law. The presentation of the new consumer film was the outstanding topic for this ESA Yearly Conference (press release 16-06, click here).

Dr. Jochen Schäfer, in his role as Legal Counsel of the WFGI World Federation of Sporting Goods Industry and Munich partner of the leading law firm Hogan, Hartson & Raue, realizes, that there is a sharp increase of counterfeit and piracy in general. Between 1998 and 2004 the number of customs seizures e.g. increased 1000%, and the increase of seizures between 2003 - 2004 within the category of clothing accessories (including sunglasses!) amounts 144 %: a really significant escalation! 

Consequently counterfeit products cause substantial job losses globally. But what are effective instruments to reduce the "counterfeiting industry"? Dr. Schäfer points out, that the following measures promise efforts:

1. The continuous lobbying at the European Commission, WTO and the worldwide national governments, to improve standards of protection of intellectual property laws and the enforcement of such laws.                                                       2. Special activities, like e.g. Co-Organization of a Technical Workshop of the World Customs Organization in Brussels in conjunction with FIFA World Cup 2006 - continuous education of members and enforcement authorities.                              3. Continuous education of the consumers and the trade, which negative effects the purchase of faked products have (e.g. the support of the organized crime, health and safety risks, loss of jobs, etc.).

This insight demonstrates that "ESA-products", the Sunglasses, are related products to sporting goods and they are hit by counterfeits. "Closer cooperation between ESA and FESI European Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry would save cost and both sides could learn from each other", reasoned Mr. Jochen Schäfer.

(Dr. Jochen Schäfer "The fight against counterfeits by the international sporting goods industry" at ESA Yearly Conference June 2006; jschaefer@hhhlaw.com).

NEW international Sunglass Standards

At the Yearly Conference in Vienna, Dr. Graziano Marusi from Intercast did give a latest overview on the status of ISO, EN and CHINA standardization process. The full presentation can be found in the internal members area.

Main differences from EN1836:1997+A1+A2
* Incorporation of the amendments A1 and A2
* 3.8: replaced "relative visual attenuation quotient" with "relative visual attenuation coefficient"
* 3.10: Adding of a definition of rv (solar luminous reflectance)
* Tables 3 and 4: Addition of dioptres and prism dioptres as units
* 5.5: Now: "The manufacturer shall exclude from contact with the skin any materials that known to cause irritation, allergic or toxic reaction during wear".

Previous version: "The manufacturer should not use frame materials that are known to cause irritation, toxic reaction, or other harm during wear in contact with skin in normal state of health".
* 6.10.2: Replaced "geometrical center" with "boxed center"
* E.3: Replaced "Should be most adequate" with "should usually be adequate"
* 4.6: Resistance to radiation - The test method and limits are changed
Note: The paragraph numbers are changed

December 2nd, 2005
On the Official Journal of the European Union number C306 was published the list of the European standards that guarantee the presumption of conformity.Regarding the Sunglasses for general use, the official standard is now the EN1836:2005.
The previous version EN1836:1997 does not guarantee the presumption of conformity after 31 March 2006.

January 2006: Publication of EN1836:2005/AC:2006
(corrigendum to paragraph 3.8 due to a missed equation)

May 2006: Resolution 218 to be taken by CEN/TC 85 until 2006-07-15 Amendment to EN 1836:2005 + EN1836:2005/AC:2006

Scope of the amendment :
Change the reference in EN1836:2005 from ENV 14027 to EN12472.
Reason: The ENV 14027:2001 "method for the simulation of wear before the detection of nickel release from coated metal and combination spectacles frames" is withdrawn.

Please find here some selected figures from the American Sunglass Market 2005: - 86 % of the US-population wears sunglasses, only 64 % of the Europeans wear them!  - US Sunglass Sales by age groups: 18 - 34: 38,6 & wear sunglasses; 35-44: 29,7 %; 45-54: 17,9 % and 55+: 16,9 %. - US consumer buying habits: 41,2 % strongly agree, that looks are more important than brands; 30,6% somewhat agree - US Sunglasses sales by gender: male purchases 986 million $ and the beautiful sex, the female purchases only 925 million $. More information on the US Sunglass Market: internal member's area (Agenda Yearly Conference).

SHORT REPORT ON ESA BOARDMEETING IN JULY

The last ESA Board Meeting  took place in Varese, Italy July 3-4: The outstanding topics have been: - How to rebuild a strong contat towards Brussels; - how to receive funds for ESA promotions on eye protection; - how to reach as many European consumers as possible; - how to fully exploit the new ESA Film.

GUIDELINES ON THE APPLICATION OF COUNCIL DIRECTIVE  89/686/EEC OF 21 DECEMBER 989 On THE APPROXIMATION OF THE LAWS OF THE MEMBER STATES RELATING TO PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

These guidelines are intended to be a manual for all parties directly or indirectly affected by Directive 89/686/EEC1, commonly to as PPE ("Personal Protective Equipment") directive. Readers' attention is drawn to the fact that this guide is intended only to facilitate the application of Directive 89/686/EEC and it is the relevant national transposition of the text of the directive which is legally binding. However, this document does represent a reference for ensuring application of the directive by all stakeholders. The guidelines are intended to help ensure the free movement of PPE in the Community territory2 by consensus amongst Member States' government experts and other parties concerned.

ESA Members can receive the complete PPE Guidelines while sending an email to office@esa-sunglasses.com