1cc Webinar – The New German WEEE Legislation and its Counterparts in Other European Countries

The implementation of the EU WEEE Directive (2012/19/EU) is accomplished in most of the EU Member Countries. Germany’s transposition, the so called new ElektroG, has entered into force on October 24, 2015. The new ElektroG introduces some major changes to producers’ obligations. Furthermore, Stiftung ear is adapting registration procedures to meet the new requirements. Globally acting companies producing or selling EEE across Europe face the challenge to understand the impact of the new legal requirements on their business in all their target markets. Meike Ruoff, Director at 1cc GmbH, will provide an insight into the main elements of the new ElektroG for German and foreign producers, and how these are put into practice across Europe. Date: November 12, 2015 Time: 3 p.m. CET Sign up: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7404276598329553921 Participation in this 1cc Webinar is free. However, the number of participants in the webinar will be limited to 20 attendees.

Major Changes from the New German WEEE Regulation (ElektroG)

The new ElektroG transposing the EU WEEE Directive (2012/19/EU) into German law has entered into force on October 24, 2015. Producers, retailers and distance sellers have to fulfil a number of new and modified obligations from the new ElektroG, e.g.

• Definition of “producer” has been extended to distance sellers from abroad offering or selling EEE directly to German end-users
• Foreign producers have to appoint a German authorized representative, who fulfils all responsibilities under the new ElektroG in his own name, such as registration, reporting, information of users etc. Moreover, foreign producers need to adapt their registration with Stiftung ear accordingly
• Guarantee requirements have been changed: i.e. the blocked bank account is not accepted anymore as financial guarantee from 2016, however a new option for smaller volumes has been introduced
• Retailers with a sales area for EEE of at least 400m² have to take back small EEE (with a maximum edge length of 25 cm) from consumers free of charge and without the consumer buying new products; in the case of direct sellers (e.g. webshops) each EEE storage and consignment area in Germany is considered
• Information of consumers: producers and retailers have to inform private households about the take back possibility they have setup, the erasure of personal data before returning WEEE, and the meaning of the crossed-out wheeled waste bin symbol
• Fee schedule (“Gebührenverzeichnis”) has been changed: some fees charged by Stiftung ear have been decreased, others have been increased considerably; moreover new fees have been introduced, e.g. for the approval of an authorized representative and for the change of the registered type of equipment after reassignment
• The catalogue of sanctions has been extended: now also e.g. improper labelling and the improper setup of an authorized representative are regarded as a regulatory offence and can be fined

So far only a German version is available:  http://www.bgbl.de/xaver/bgbl/start.xav?startbk=Bundesanzeiger_BGBl&jumpTo=bgbl115s1739.pdf The related new cost ordinance (ElektroGGebV) can be found here:  http://www.bgbl.de/xaver/bgbl/start.xav?startbk=Bundesanzeiger_BGBl&jumpTo=bgbl115s1776.pdf 1cc is happy to advise you individually in analyzing the impact of new requirements on your business and on your WEEE registrations. Furthermore, 1cc has developed several new services in order to support your company to fulfil new and modified obligations from the new ElektroG. For more information, please contact us at info@1cc-consulting.com.

1cc Exhibits and Presents at 3rd China UM Expo in Shanghai

This year the 3rd China Urban Mining Expo (and China International Environmental Production Solid Waste, Waste Treatment, Renewable Resources Expo) will take place in Shanghai, China from Nov. 4th to 6th, 2015. The expo was permitted by China Ministry of Commerce, supported by China National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Finance, MEP etc. and organized by China Renewable Resource Collection and Utilization Association. 1cc consultant Ms. Yun Zhang will give the presentation „WEEE take-back responsibility and experience in EU” in the afternoon of Nov. 5th, 2015. The presentation will focus on the producer responsibility and experiences on mandatory and voluntary WEEE take-back in EU. 1cc will participate at the expo at its own booth in expo zone “Technology and Research”. We are looking forward to meeting you! Further Information: www.um-expo.cn

New German ElektroG2: 1cc Support for Retailers and Distant Sellers

As one of the last EU member states, Germany has put into force its implementation of the EU WEEE Directive 2012/19/EU into national law last Saturday: The ElektroG2 went effective on October 24, 2015. Compared to the former ElektroG1, the new ElektroG2 foresees various changes and new obligations also for retailers and distance sellers.   As distributors will have to face new collection requirements at point-of-sale (0:1 and 1:1 take-back), we offer collection solutions which could be easily established, together with our sister company TechProtect. These collection solutions are completed by our comprehensive consulting for obliged distributors of electrical and electronic equipment, e.g. with respect to new notification and information requirements, as well as our administrative services.   For more information, please contact info@1cc-consulting.com.

German ElektroG2: New 1cc Services for the appointment of an AR

As one of the last EU member states, Germany transposes the new EU WEEE Directive (2012/19/EU) into national law: The ElektroG2 will enter into force on October 24, 2015. One of the most important changes refers to the new producer definition and the appointment of an Authorized Representative (AR). A foreign distance seller who sells directly to end-users in Germany is then explicitly mentioned to be the “producer” and will therefore have to fulfil all producer obligations as e.g. registering and reporting. In order to manage this task, he will have to appoint an AR. If a foreign manufacturer sells its products via the distribution channel, the importer is considered to be the “producer”. However, the law still provides the possibility that the manufacturer appoints an AR in Germany who assumes all obligations. 1cc has elaborated different courses of action to ensure your future WEEE compliance in Germany: 1. Evaluation of your current WEEE obligations (sales via an importer, only distance selling, sales via an importer and distance selling) 2. Individual assessment of the options to appoint an AR:

• Appoint a German entity of your company group as your AR
• Appoint a German distribution partner as your AR
• Contract a third party service provider as your AR
• Set up an new German-based entity as your AR

3. Organising the necessary contracting with the selected AR and adaptation of your registration with Stiftung ear For more information, please contact us at info@1cc-consulting.com

Austria: New Copyright Law Effective

As of 1 October 2015, significant amendments to the Austrian Copyright Act enter into force. The legal basis for copyright levy matters is being changed in key aspects such as:  

• the scope is now extended to “all storage media”
• the levied products and corresponding tariffs are to be negotiated between the collecting society and the industry stakeholders
• further changes in formal requirements, among them new exemption and refunding rules, transparency demands, visible fee, etc.

All companies having copyright levy obligations should observe these changes. Of course, 1cc is here to help you.

WEEE: Changes in EAR Category 5 – B2C Lighting Equipment

In the light of the upcoming German ElektroG2, Stiftung EAR has adapted the types of equipment that fall under Category 5 for Lighting Equipment: Type of equipment 5.1.1 “Gas discharge lamps, for the use in private households” remains unchanged. Completely new is type of equipment 5.1.2. “Lamps, except gas discharge lamps, for the use in private households”. LED lamps e.g. will fall under this new type of equipment. Luminaires with exchangeable light sources have been added to type of equipment 5.2. “Luminaires and devices for the dispersion of light for the use in private households”. Luminaires with non-exchangeable, fixed light sources remain in this type of equipment.  Companies who need a different or additional registration, have to inform Stiftung EAR within a period of three months after the new ElektroG2 has entered into force. 1cc will support you with the necessary support and services. For more information please contact info@1cc-consulting.com.

1cc Presents at Emerging Green 2015 in Portland, Oregon

North America’s Emerging Green Conference is the premiere gathering of technology leaders to discuss the advances, challenges and future of sustainable electronics. Emerging Green is a place in 2015 to meet, mingle with and influence leaders in the global electronics industry. The conference takes place September 22-24, 2015 in Portland, Oregon. 1cc consultant Ofira Varga will give the presentation “E-Waste in Latin America” on September 22th, 2015 at 3:30 am. Further information: http://emerginggreenconference.com/

REACH Decision of EJC : “Once an Article, always an Article”

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has published the long expected judgment on the decision regarding the threshold of 0,1 % of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) according to EU REACH Regulation on September 10, 2015. Article 33 of EU REACH Regulation No 1907/2006, as amended, must be interpreted as follows: The supplier of a product which consists of one or more constituent articles which contain a substance of very high concern identified in accordance with REACH Article 59(1) in a concentration above 0.1% weight by weight of that article, has to inform the recipient and, on request, the consumer, of the presence of that substance by providing them, as a minimum, with the name of the substance in question. The threshold of 0,1 % is no longer calculated on basis of the whole article (former ECHA interpretation), but of each single constituent article the product consists of. Suppliers of articles now have to review their compliance system (communication, data management etc.) with respect to the additional information requirements according to REACH Article 33. 1cc supports companies with handling of SVHC communication as well as further requirements according to the obligations ruled by REACH.

Webinar: “Existing and Upcoming E-Waste Legislations in Latin American Countries as a Challenge for Producers of IT Equipment”.

1cc Consultant Ofira Varga will hold a Webinar on “Existing and Upcoming E-Waste Legislations in Latin American Countries as a Challenge for Producers of IT Equipment“. The Webinar will show the complexity of regulatory requirements in Latin America using the example of some selected countries. Attendees will learn about the challenge to be aware of the various national obligations. Date: September 17, 2015 Time: 4 pm (CEST) Speaker: Ofira Varga, Senior Consultant Sign up: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4169029602609505538 Background: In recent years, Latin American Countries have put into effect a number of legal requirements targeting producers and addressing environmental issues. Among the obligations with relevance for electrical and electronic products, such as IT-devices or office equipment, are those which apply to the end-of-life of a product. In this context, take-back and recycling requirements have come in the center of interest of regulators as e-waste is an important issue worldwide. Participation in the 1cc Webinar is free. However, the number of participants in the webinar will be limited to 20 attendees.