EC consultation on restrictions of hazardous substances in electrical equipment

11 September 2005

The EC is inviting interested parties to submit comments on the new legislation controlling use of toxic substances in electrical equipment, which is due to come into force next year.

EC Directives 2002/95/EC on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment and 2002/96/EC on waste electrical and electronic equipment, including medical devices, are aimed at restricting the amount of toxic materials that are dumped in landfills or incinerated.

Directive 2002/95/EC requires the substitution of various heavy metals (lead, mecury, cadmium, and hexavalent chromium) and brominated flame retardants (polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) or polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)) in new electrical and electronic equipment from 1 July 2006. Producers will be responsible for taking back and recycling electronic and electrical equipment, as an incentive to take recycling into account in the design of products.

The EC has announced a stakeholder consultation on "Adaptation to scientific and technical progress under Directive 2002/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment for the purpose of a possible amendment of the annex."

Interested parties are invited to send their comments by 28 October 2005 at the latest by email to ENV-RoHS@cec.eu.int or by post to:

European Commission
DG Environment,
Unit G4 Consultation Directive 2002/95/EC
B-1049, Brussels,
Belgium.

Further information:

Consultation page:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/waste/rohs_3_consult.htm

Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment page:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/waste/weee_index.htm 
 

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