Proposal for New Energy Efficiency Labelling Directive: EU Parliament Adopted Amendments

The EU Parliament has adopted amendments to the proposal of the European Parliament and of the Council setting a framework for energy efficiency labelling and repealing Directive 2010/30/EU. Members of Parliament voted on the proposed rescaling of labels in order to ensure a homogeneous A to G scale, the introduction of a product database as well as stronger market surveillance.

Rescaling of labels
The Parliament agreed that the Commission shall introduce rescaled labels for existing product groups within five years after the entry into force of the Directive. According to the Parliament, any future rescale shall aim for a validity period of at least 10 years. In future, the criteria triggering  rescaling procedures  shall be:
•    25% of the products sold within the EU market fall into the top energy efficiency class A; or
•    50% of the products sold within the EU market fall into the top two energy efficiency classes A+B.

Product Database
The product database shall provide information on energy-related products covered by the Directive both for customers and market surveillance authorities: Customers will be able to access the database via a public interface, organised as a consumer-oriented website. An electronic platform with clearly specified accessibility and security requirements shall be accessible for national market surveillance authorities.

Market Surveillance
In order to strengthen market surveillance, national market surveillance authorities shall do physical product testing which covers at least one product group per year. By January 1, 2018, Member States will have to establish a national market surveillance plan.

RoHS: Draft Technical Regulation Published in Eurasian Economic Union

In the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), the final draft Technical Regulation on the “Restriction of the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment” RoHS was published. The EEU is the former Customs Union (CU), an economic union of currently five countries of the former Soviet Union, among them e.g. Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus.

The forecasted date of entry into force of the EEU Technical Regulation on RoHS is March 1, 2018. The current draft TR on RoHS follows in two relevant parts the EU RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU: It stipulates substance restrictions for Lead (0,1 %), Mercury (0,1 %), Cadmium (0,01 %), Hexavalent Chromium (0,1 %), Polybrominated biphenyls, PBB (0,1 %) and Polybrominated diphenyl ethers PBDE; (0,1 %) and foresees the same thresholds. The four phthalates DEHP, BBP, DBP and DIBP, which are restricted in the EU beginning with July 22, 2019, are not regulated by this Draft TR.

However, there are significant differences regarding product scope, definitions, exemptions from substance restrictions and labelling requirements. In addition, before placing a product in scope on the EEU market, a specific conformity assessment has to be conducted and registration is required.

For more information, please contact us at contact@1cc-consulting.com.

Packaging: New Draft Law Published in Germany

The German Federal Ministry of Environment (BMUB) is currently working on a draft for a new Packaging Law, which will repeal the Packaging Ordinance. Besides some new definitions which are intended to clarify terms of the law and higher collection and recycling targets, the current draft foresees some major changes in how the system for packaging will be administered in future:

The draft contains the set-up of a central authority (similar to the function of stiftung ear, the German WEEE producer register). It will manage the newly demanded registration for packaging in Germany and will be in charge to administer a Declaration of Completeness.
Impact on producer obligations

With the numerous changes proposed, producers will have to face new requirements, such as registration in the public register for packaging with the new central authority and submission of an annual Declaration of Completeness – even producers who do not meet the current annual thresholds for such declaration will have this obligation in future. Furthermore, the pricing structure of recycling fees will change, as the draft foresees fees based on recyclability of packaging.

A final draft of the law is not expected before early 2017.

For more information, please contact us at contact@1cc-consulting.com.

Packaging: New Draft Law Published in Germany

The German Federal Ministry of Environment (BMUB) is currently working on a draft for a new Packaging Law, which will repeal the Packaging Ordinance. Besides some new definitions which are intended to clarify terms of the law and higher collection and recycling targets, the current draft foresees some major changes in how the system for packaging will be administered in future:

The draft contains the set-up of a central authority (similar to the function of stiftung ear, the German WEEE producer register). It will manage the newly demanded registration for packaging in Germany and will be in charge to administer a Declaration of Completeness.
Impact on producer obligations

With the numerous changes proposed, producers will have to face new requirements, such as registration in the public register for packaging with the new central authority and submission of an annual Declaration of Completeness – even producers who do not meet the current annual thresholds for such declaration will have this obligation in future. Furthermore, the pricing structure of recycling fees will change, as the draft foresees fees based on recyclability of packaging.

A final draft of the law is not expected before early 2017.

For more information, please contact us at contact@1cc-consulting.com.

Webinars related to REACH and Take-Back of Batteries

1cc GmbH organizes two new webinars related to REACH and Take-Back of Batteries.

Both webinars will be offered in English. Please find below further information:

Title: REACH 2018 – How to Determine and Handle Your Registration Obligations Easily
Date: Tue, Oct 4, 2016 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM CEST
Speaker: Nadiia Kaiun, Consultant at 1cc
Sign up:  https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6095035333585531139

Title: Environmental Compliance for E-Bikes – Focus on Take-Back of Batteries
Date: Wed, Oct 12, 2016 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM CEST
Speaker: Solveig Legler, Senior Strategy Manager at 1cc
Sign up: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5197266497588530947

PS: Participation in these 1cc webinars is free. However, the number of participants in each webinar will be limited to 20 attendees.

Looking forward to your participation!

1cc Presents at ICBR 2016 in Antwerp, Belgium

The ICBR is the international platform for discussion of the latest developments and the challenges of battery recycling, bringing together many decision makers in the battery recycling chain such as battery producers, recyclers, collection schemes, policy-makers, transport companies and many more. The congress takes place September 14 – 16, 2016 in Antwerp, Belgium.

1cc consultant Marc Pieper will give the presentation “Removability requirements for batteries and the impact on product design” on Thursday, September 15, 2016 at 09.30 pm.

Further Information: www.icm.ch/icbr-2016

1cc Presents at Electronics Goes Green 2016 Conference in Berlin, Germany

The upcoming Electronics Goes Green Conference 2016 is an outstanding event for the growing global community of scientists, product developers, and business managers working on the task of improving the environmental properties of technologies and products along the value chain of the electronics and ICT industry. The conference will take place from September 7 – 9, 2016 at Seminaris Campus Hotel in Berlin, Germany.

1cc Senior Consultant Eva Hink will give the presentation “Challenges and Difficulties Deriving from Extension of Annex II of the RoHS Directive” on Friday, Sept 9, 2016 at 8:30 am.

At the same day, Stefanie Enders, Legal Counsel at 1cc GmbH, will give a speech on “WEEE Legislation in Africa – Status and Future Developments” at 13:30 pm.

Furthermore, she will provide an insight into “WEEE Legislation in Africa – Status and Current Development” during the poster session slots on:
Sept 7, 2016 3:30 – 4:30 pm
Sept 8, 2016 3:00 – 4:00 pm
Sept 9, 2016 12:30 – 1:30 pm

We are looking forward to meeting you!

Further information: http://electronicsgoesgreen.org

1cc Presents at Electronics Goes Green 2016 Conference in Berlin, Germany

The upcoming Electronics Goes Green Conference 2016 is an outstanding event for the growing global community of scientists, product developers, and business managers working on the task of improving the environmental properties of technologies and products along the value chain of the electronics and ICT industry. The conference will take place from September 7 – 9, 2016 at Seminaris Campus Hotel in Berlin, Germany.

1cc Senior Consultant Eva Hink will give the presentation “Challenges and Difficulties Deriving from Extension of Annex II of the RoHS Directive” on Friday, Sept 9, 2016 at 8:30 am.

At the same day, Stefanie Enders, Legal Counsel at 1cc GmbH, will give a speech on “WEEE Legislation in Africa – Status and Future Developments” at 13:30 pm.

Furthermore, she will provide an insight into “WEEE Legislation in Africa – Status and Current Development” during the poster session slots on:
Sept 7, 2016 3:30 – 4:30 pm
Sept 8, 2016 3:00 – 4:00 pm
Sept 9, 2016 12:30 – 1:30 pm

We are looking forward to meeting you!

Further information: http://electronicsgoesgreen.org

WEEE: German Associations Complain Lack of Take-Back Offers

Since July 24, 2016, customers can return their used electrical and electronic equipment at Point-of-Sale, including distance sellers. This new return possibility also applies to smaller devices, even if no new device has been bought.

However, according to recent press releases published by the German Umwelthilfe (environmental association) and the German Bundesverband Onlinehandel (German Association for Distance Selling), some distance seller, among them some bigger players, do not comply with this requirement. Customers who wanted to return their used devices could not do so.

Anyway, distance sellers are obliged to take back small devices (maximum side length of 25 cm) free of charge and, if there is no return station at reasonable distance, bear the costs for shipping.

1cc supports distance seller who have not yet established a take-back solution, with a respective service: Together with our sister company TechProtect, we have set up WEEE Collect4U. Besides the collection of outdated electrical and electronic equipment, WEEE Collect4U offers comprehensive consulting and services, e.g. with respect to new notification, reporting and information requirements.

For more information, please contact info@1cc-consulting.com.

Singapore: RoHS-like Legislation Published

On June 1, 2016, Singapore has published an Order amending the Second Schedule of the Environmental Protection and Management Act.
Coming into force one year later, on June 1, 2017, certain so called „controlled EEE (Electrical and electronic equipment)“ has to comply with the well-known RoHS substance restrictions in homogeneous material by weight:

Lead: 0,1 %
Cadmium: 0,01 %
Mercury: 0,1%
Hexavalent Chromium: 0,1%
Polybrominated Biphenyls: 0,1%
Polybrominated Diphenylether: 0,1%

Restrictions are limited to certain products as specified in the Act, e.g. Air conditioners, Televisions, mobile phones, portable computers or washing machines, etc. Several exemptions, following the wording in Annex III of EU RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU, are also applicable.

Restrictions apply for manufacture, import, sale or offer for sale but are not applicable for second hand-products.

Singapore is just one of several countries now adopting restrictions similar to EU ROHS Directive 2011/65/EU in order to restrict certain dangerous substances in EEE.

Need more information on RoHS worldwide? Contact us!