The first known legislation affecting glass manufacture was in 3rd century Rome, and since then there have been many examples of governments seeking to interfere with, or raise revenue from the glass industry. Most of the financial measures have had harmful effects on the competitiveness of glass, sometimes with immediate effect and sometimes long-term. The only really beneficial law was the 1615 Proclamation forbidding the use of wood as fuel, and even this was not intended to help glassmakers. So it is encouraging to find little sign of such direct legislation recurring in coming years. Future laws are likely to be more general in their application and designed to protect society from the risk of being harmed by industrial processes or products. But, it would not help society if sections of industry fail because of ill-conceived legislation. So it will be in everyone's interests to ensure that real risks are minimised voluntarily, and that national and international legislators are kept fully informed about industrial problems and plans.
