RoHS: Are you ready for “RoHS-III” and “open scope” coming up July 22, 2019?

Many companies will soon be confronted with two major changes in the RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU. By July 22, 2019, Annex II of the directive will be broadened to ten substances. The following four phthalates will be added to the list of restricted substances and their use will be restricted to a maximum concentration of 0,1% in homogeneous material: .

• Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP)
• Butylbenzylphthalate (BBP)
• Dibutylphthalate (DBP)
• Diisobutylphthalate (DIBP)

This change was implemented by Directive (EU) 2015/863 on June 4, 2015. The amendment, which is often referred to as “RoHS III”, will affect all electrical and electronic equipment. The compliance deadline is set for July 21, 2021 for medical devices and (industrial) monitoring and control instruments, only. In addition, the so-called open scope will apply as of 22 July 2019. This implies that all electrical and electronic equipment will be covered by the directive’s scope (exclusions remain unchanged). We would be happy to answer your queries regarding compliance to the RoHS Directive. Please contact us at contact@1cc-consulting.com

1cc – Team news

Anna Maier joined the 1cc team as a Compliance Specialist in November 2018. Anna recently completed her MBA in Energy and Resource Management with focus on Environmental Economics at the Technical University Freiberg. Her initial academic path as a mechatronic engineer lent her valuable work experience in the mechanical engineering field.   Anna is looking forward to placing her expertise at the disposal of our customers in the fields of waste compliance.

REACH: Six New SVHCs are added to the Candidate List

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published the new REACH Candidate List on January 15, 2019: Six Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) were added to the list. The Candidate List of substances of very high concern for authorization now contains 197 substances. The newly added substances are used in various applications. For instance, Benzo[k]fluoranthene, Fluoranthene, Phenanthrene and Pyrene are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and are therefore referred to as PAHs. They could occur in polymers, as well as caoutchouc. 2,2-bis(4′-hydroxyphenyl)-4-methylpentane is used in glue, paint and the production of polymers. 1,7,7-trimethyl-3-(phenylmethylene)bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one is used as UV-filter in sunscreen and other cosmetic products. Link to the ECHA website: https://echa.europa.eu/-/six-new-substances-added-to-the-candidate-list

Poland: New BDO Register Requires Re-Registration

In Poland, the new central register for electro- and electric equipment, batteries and packaging, called BDO, was set up a year ago. This new database on products, packaging and waste management replaces the former register administered by the authority Główny Inspectorate Ochrony Środowiska (GIOŚ). All producers of WEEE, batteries and packaging are required to re-register for entry in the BDO Register through the responsible local authorities. The latter are in turn responsible for entering and updating information about the registered manufacturers in the BDO Register. Following successful re-registration, producers are expected to receive individual registration numbers, the so-called BDO registration numbers. Considering the BDO database is a public register, information on companies’ registrations is available online https://bdo.mos.gov.pl/web/ Polish authorities are expected to start imposing penalties on failure to comply with the re-registration requirement, soon. Accordingly, urgent action is highly recommended. 1cc remains at your disposal for queries you may have on this matter. Our fulfilment team would be glad to help you register for WEEE, batteries and packaging, thereby ensuring you meet your producer obligations in Poland. Please contact us at contact@1cc-consulting.com.

New Managing Directors at 1cc

February 14, 2019, 1cc appointed two new managing directors. Meike Ruoff (38) and Ivan Blazek (42) took over this position from Michael Krug (62). In 2015, Krug had sold his shares of 1cc to the holding company 4Square Return GmbH (4SR) and limited his contract until the end of April 2019. Meike Ruoff studied business administration and has worked for 1cc and its predecessor companies since 2005. Since 2014, Ruoff was an authorized representative with 1cc. Ivan Blazek just as well studied business administration and spent most of his professional life in the European organisation of the Taiwanese contract manufacturer Foxconn, respectively its site in Pardubice in the Czech Republic. During the past few years, both Ruoff and Blazek have gathered immense competence in the business areas of 1cc as well as 4SR Group, i.e. compliance and circular economy. Moreover, Blazek was intensely involved into the equity acquisition process of Foxconn owned company CircuTech with 4Square Return GmbH in the years 2017 and 2018. „The new managing couple has all prerequisites to successfully continue 1cc’s business path“, 4SR-owner Armin Kienle commented the shift. At the same time, Kienle thanked Krug for building up 1cc, and expand its business scope into a meanwhile globally active service provider and consulting firm for compliance topics.

UK Environment Agency to Identify Non-Compliant Packaging Producers

The Environment Agency in UK has published an official Packaging Producer Responsibility Monitoring Plan 2019. The aim is to monitor businesses that are affected by the Packaging Producer Responsibility Regulations and to identify producers that do not meet their legal obligations. Among other activities, the Environment Agency plans to:

• review and validate all direct registration applications
• identify and contact those producers who have not registered or renewed their registration
• bring them back into compliance, if necessary.

Producers that met the criteria according to the Packaging Producer Responsibility Regulations in the previous year are obliged to register by 7th April of the following year. The registration has to be renewed annually. For more information, please feel free to contact us at: info@1cc-consulting.com

Austria to ban plastic carrier bags by 2020

The Austrian Federal Government plans to ban all plastic carrier bags and the use of micro-plastic particles in cosmetics and cleaning products. Plastic carrier bags will be completely banned from the Austrian market as of 2020. The only exemption will be plastic carrier bags that are completely biodegradable.

ECHA publishes updated Candidate List

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has published the new REACH Candidate List on January 15, 2019: Six Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) were added to the list. The Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern for Authorization now contains 197 substances. Link to the ECHA website: https://echa.europa.eu/-/six-new-substances-added-to-the-candidate-list