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Dear Subscribers, I am pleased to announce that RIET and EQS have concluded the agreement to transfer the entire EHS Legislation Handbook Updating Service to EQS Technologies. Many of you may be aware that I have been deeply involved in the partnership of EHS Legislation Handbook Updating Service with RIET since 1997. RIET started with a truly Singapore law handbook produced by a highly reputable law firm. It was a very well compiled summary of Singapore legal requirements that many of us found it to be very useful, especially during the time that such regulatory information were not readily available.
The updating service in 1997 was not really satisfactory as legal update was not forth coming and the pioneer subscribers base kept shrinking. When RIET invited EQS to revive the updating service, we started with a humble beginning of around 20 loyal subscribers. Thanks to my former colleagues in the Ministry of the Environment (now known as MEWR) and many supporters, we delivered the update diligently and added many document control features to the updating service to support the growing pools of organisations seeking for ISO 14001 certification and legal compliance. The RIET Singapore Environmental Legislation Updating Service soon became a popular hit and eventually the absolute leader in legislation updating service. Following the growth of BS 8800, the precursor of OHSAS 18001, the scope of updating was expanded to include occupational health and safety laws. The updating service became Singapore EHS Legislation Handbook Updating Service. Beginning as a separate project, RIET, Jebsen & Jessen and SGS were developing an EHS legislation updates for the region, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand. In 1999, we took the challenge to work on this uncompleted project and finally, it merged with our Singapore EHS Legislation Updating Service to become the series of five EHS Legislation Handbooks. Since then, the RIET and EQS partnership improved the handbooks and updating services to be an on-line portal, http://www.ehslaw.net The RIET and EQS partnership also jointly organised a few highly successful Annual EHS seminars for subscribers and the public. The seminars were strongly supported by the relevant regulatory authorities. The turnout in 2007 at Singapore Polytechnic Lecture Theater was more than 400. Today, the handbooks and updating services benefited more than 500 organisations that are committed to assure themselves for legal compliance. The subscribers include government bodies, statutory boards, certification bodies, consultants, MNCs and SMEs from Singapore and worldwide. It has become a must have service for organisations implementing, consulting and auditing ISO 14001 & OHSAS 18001 management systems. It is increasing adopted as a must have tool to assure legal compliance. When RIET informed me its decision to cease operations in Singapore, including the well received EHS Legislation Handbook ~ Updating Service, it was a kind of mixed feeling for me. RIET has been fulfilling its mission improving environmental performance in Singapore and the region. The Board of RIET and EQS Technologies concluded a sale and purchase agreement for the business of EHS Legislation ~ Updating Service covering the 5 countries. Effective from 13th June 2008, the EHS Legislation Updating Service (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines and Indonesia) will be fully operated and managed by EQS Technologies Pte Ltd. We are committed to continue and improve the excellent service provided by the dedicated team of RIET. We assure all that as a lean and dynamic organisation, we aspire to respond to the needs of subscribers to bring this updating service to a new height. Your feedback will be a motivation for us to continue the journey to service excellence. We sincerely thank you for your support over the years and we look forward to your continuous support. Taking this opportunity, I would personally like to express my gratitude to the Board and management of RIET for providing the valuable opportunities to partner in this highly successful EHS Legislation Updating and the dedicated team of RIET responsible for the quality services. Last but not the least, special thanks to Robert, Joanne and Jenny of RIET for ensuring a smooth handing over of operations from RIET to EQS Technologies. Yours faithfully,
Yeo Kek koon EQS Technologies Pte Ltd 13 June 2008
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