Following a ban on the use dimethyl fumarate (DMF) by the European Union on goods made in Europe as well as those made outside the EU (due to come into effect in May). Thousands of consumers have complained of blisters, sores and rashes to the skin, and eye irritations following the purchase of leather furniture and leather products made in China.

Dates for the next three editions of the Le Cuir A Paris exhibition have been released by the show organisers SIC.

It was with great sadness to report the death of Richard Graves on March 18, 2009. Richard Graves, joined the British School of Leather Technology, as a lecturer in 1980, having studied at the National Leathersellers College and worked at Garston Tanning Company and R B Sanders and Co.

According to Ron Sauer the leather industry is facing a chronic over-supply of raw materials, which may have a dangerous impact on the market. The situation is likely to get worse - certainly in the near future and is also likely in the medium to longer term.

Pittards, the UK based tanning group made an operating profit of £1.4 ($1.9) million in 2008 turning around a loss of -£1.9 (-$2.7) million in 2007 and signalling a reversal in the company's fortunes. However, after considering exceptional items pre-tax results slipped into the red.

Ireland's Central Statistical Office reports that the number of cattle in Ireland in December 2008 was 5.9 million, a year-on-year increase of 0.6%.

Bulgaria's National Statistics Institute reports that the production of leather and leather products in Bulgaria in January was unchanged compared with December and 26.9% lower than in the same month in 2008.

Turkey's State Statistics Institute reports that the production of leather and leather products in Turkey in January was 31.1% lower than in the same month last year.

Croatia's Central Bureau of Statistics reports that the production of leather and leather products in Croatia in January was 26.9% lower than in January 2008.

Kosovo's Statistical Office reports that Kosovo exported leather and leather products worth E368,000 in January, compared with E698,000 in the same month in 2008.

Spain's National Statistics Institute reports that the production of leather and leather products in Spain in January was 20.5% lower than in January 2008.

Slovakia's Statistical Office reports that the production of leather, leather products and textiles in the Slovak Republic in January was 24.1% lower than in January 2008.

Montenegro's Statistical Office reports that the production of leather and leather products in Montenegro in January was 25% lower than in December.

Since the introduction of Synthol GS 606 (in early 2008), by Smit & Zoon, the product has proven to be a major success and is widely used throughout the industry.

CMP Asia, a subsidiary of United Business Media Limited (UBM) have announced that with effect from March 23, 2009, it will change its name to UBM Asia. CMP Asia, now UBM Asia, are co-organisers of the APLF (Hong Kong) and ACLE (Shanghai) exhibitions, major international trade events for the leather industry.

Dow Europe GmbH this week announced that it will raise prices in Europe effective April 1, 2009, or as contracts allow, for products in the glycol ethers portfolio by €50 ($63) to €70 ($89) per metric ton dependent upon grade. This increase is required to address margin compression.

Lectra, a leader in automated cutting technology for industries using soft materials such as leather, textiles, industrial fabrics, and composite materials have launched their latest version of Modaris, its pattern-making equipment for the apparel industry.

The Dow Chemical Company announced recently that it will increase the off schedule price for glacial acrylic acid, butyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, methyl acrylate and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, also known as acrylic monomers or acrylates, effective from April 1st, or as contracts allow.

Turkey's State Statistics Institute reports that Turkey imported raw hides and skins, and leather, worth US$22.3 million in January, a year-on-year decrease of 54.5%.

Statistics Serbia reports that the production of leather and leather products in Serbia in January was 24.9 per cent lower than in January 2008. In comparison, industrial output in Serbia in 2008 was 17.1 per cent higher year-on-year.

Ireland's Central Statistical Office reports that Ireland exported raw livestock hides and skins worth EUR65.4 million in the first eleven months of 2008, as compared with EUR87.0 million in the same period in 2007.

Ireland's Central Statistics Office reports that 113,100 cattle of a total carcass weight of 36,300 tonnes were slaughtered in Ireland in January, as compared with 137,200 cattle of a total of 45,300 tonnes carcass weight in January 2008.

Statistics Serbia reports that Serbia exported leather and leather products worth EUR11.9 million in January, as compared with EUR11.7 million in January 2008.

Croatia's Central Bureau of Statistics reports that Croatia exported leather and leather products worth USD21.0 million in January, a year-on-year decrease of 27.6 per cent.

Israel's Central Statistics Bureau reports that Israel imported leather and leather products worth USD8.5 million in January, as compared with imports worth USD9.7 million in the same month in 2008.

Hungary's Central Statistical Office reports that the producer price of leather and textiles in Hungary in January was 3.5 per cent higher than in December and 3.8 per cent higher than in January 2008.

Macedonia's State Statistical Office reports that the average gross monthly wage in Macedonia's leather industry in 2008 was MKD11,914 (US$245), an increase of 35.7 per cent as compared with 2007.

Macedonia's State Statistical Office reports that the number of people employed in Macedonia's leather industry in January was 1.3 per cent lower than in the same month in 2008.

Turkey's State Statistics Institute reports that Turkey imported raw livestock hides and skins, and leather, worth USD22.3 million in January, a year-on-year decrease of 54.5 per cent.

Ukraine's State Statistics Committee reports that sales of leather and leather products by manufacturers in Ukraine in January were worth UAH75.9 million (USD8.85 million),

Turkey's State Statistics Institute reports that the producer price of leather and leather products in Turkey in February was 1.2 per cent higher than in January and 6.3 per cent higher than in February last year.

Statistics Georgia reports that Georgia exported raw livestock hides and skins, and leather, worth USD91,200 in January.

Albania's Statistics Institute reports that Albania imported leather and leather products worth ALL424 million (USD4.11 million) in January, as compared with imports worth ALL528 million (USD5.11 million) in the same month in 2008.

Uzbekistan's State Statistics Committee reports that there were 8.02 million head of cattle in Uzbekistan as of the start of this year, an increase of 566,700 as compared with the number at the start of 2008, according to UzReport.

Hungary's Central Statistical Office reports that Hungary exported leather and leather products worth EUR121 million in 2008, a year-on-year decrease of 11.9 per cent.

Leather chemical maker, Zschimmer & Schwarz, have acquired the leather business of Münzing which will be integrated into the existing Zschimmer & Schwarz Leather Auxiliaries Division.

The American Leather Chemists Association will hold its Annual Meeting June 18-21 at the Oglebay Resort & Conference Center in Wheeling, West Virginia, USA. The full technical program will begin with the Wilson Memorial Lecture on Friday morning, June 19, and continue through to Saturday with approximately twenty lectures being presented.

Richina Industries Inc based in Shanghai, China have announced the appointment of Bob Moore as president and chief executive officer effective from March 1. Moore will be headquartered in Shanghai and will be responsible for all Richina Industries operations.

The Indian prime minister, in his capacity as president of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), has approved the appointment of Professor Asit Baran Mandal as director of the Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), one of the constituent laboratories of CSIR.

In a year when less consumer demand caused production across the world to fall, actual interest from manufacturers for SATRA's technical expertise rose compared with 2007. According to SATRA, in 2008, they attracted their highest ever level of membership subscription income.

Statistics Serbia reports that the average gross monthly wage in Serbia's leather industry in January was US$291, compared with the average wage in Serbia of US$549.

The Philippines National Statistics Office reports that the value of production in the Philippines' leather products' industry in December 2008 was 33.9% lower than in November and 9.7% lower than in December 2007.

Macedonia's State Statistical Office reports that the production of leather and leather products in Macedonia in January was 7.1% lower than in December and 7.6% lower than in January 2008.

Uzbekistan's Ministry of Agriculture reported in late February that there were approximately 7.9 million cattle in the country, according to UzReport. There were also 13.6 million sheep and goats.

The Bosnian Serb Republic's Institute of Statistics reports that the production of leather and leather products in the Republic in January was 20.7% lower than in December and 32.1% lower than in the same month in 2008.

Russia's Federal Customs Service reports that Russia imported raw leather, furs and products made from them from non-CIS states worth US$989 million in 2008.

Ukraine's State Statistics Committee reports that the production of leather and leather products in Ukraine in 2008 was 5.1% higher than in 2007.

Ukraine's State Statistics Committee reports that there were 5.14 million head of cattle on farms in Ukraine on February 1 this year, 7% fewer than on the same date in 2008.

Croatia's Central Bureau of Statistics reports that 54,709 head of cattle of a total net weight of 10,694 tonnes were slaughtered in abattoirs in Croatia in the fourth quarter of 2008, 9% lower in both number and weight terms as compared with the same quarter in 2007.

Ukraine's State Statistics Committee reports that the production of leather and leather products in Ukraine in January was 22.2% lower than in the same month in 2008.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's Federal Statistics Office reports that 34,113 head of cattle of a total net weight of 5,937 tons were slaughtered in abattoirs in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the fourth quarter of 2008. These figures were respectively 1.2% and 1.3% higher than in the fourth quarter of 2007.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's Federal Statistics Office reports that the production of leather and leather products in Bosnia and Herzegovina in January was 2.2% lower than in December and 24.3% lower than in January 2008. In comparison, industrial output in Bosnia in January was 21.2 per cent lower month-on-month and 11.1% lower year-on-year.

Clariant's Corporate Product Safety (CPS) Laboratory located in Kolshet in Thane, near Mumbai have received the globally recognised ISO 17025 Certificate of Accreditation for its chemical testing. This comes within two years of creation of the laboratory and is seen as a major endorsement of the quality of testing performed at the facility. The award was made by the Accredited Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) from the Indian government Department of Science and Technology.

Swiss leather chemical makers, TFL, are offering a new anionic silicone emulsion for nappa, garment and upper leathers with dual function.

The next SLTC Northampton group evening lecture is on Tuesday 17th March. Richard Daniels will be presenting 'The Zero Discharge Tannery'.

Leather chemical specialist, Stahl, have just launched their ‘Leather & Technology Forecast Spring-Summer 2010' booklet which will be used to support the seasonal fashion colour forecast.

JBS director of investor relations told Meatingplace.com that they are currently in the process of raising the slaughter capacity in Brazil by 10% over the next two years.

Tyson Foods' proposed sale of their Canadian beef operations to XL Foods Ltd is expected to be completed by mid-March, according to Meatingplace.com. First announced in June 2008, the deal is moving ahead since the Canadian Competition Bureau decided not to challenge it.

As Brazilian mat producers continue to close plants, lay off workers and file for bankruptcy, JBS SA say they have experienced no margin losses in the first two months of 2009 and plan to ramp up production.

Brazilian beef producer Independencia SA have filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy in a New York City court amid a decline in beef exports and a burdensome debt load, according to Reuters. Meanwhile, the Sao Paulo-based company commenced a restructuring process under Brazilian insolvency law. In filing the Chapter 15 proceeding, Independencia seeks from US courts recognition of their Brazilian reorganization.

National Beef Packing subsidiary National Beef Leathers have agreed to acquire certain assets of Prime Tanning Corp. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

National Beef will use the purchase of the St Joseph, Mo, facility to expand into wet-blue tanning, and will process hides from National Beef's beef processing facilities.