Saudi Arabia: Technical Regulation for Lighting Products part 1 is in Force

In the Official Gazette No. 4579 of the August 14, 2015  the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) announced that the Standard “SASOXXXX:2015, Energy Efficiency, Functionality and Labeling Requirements for Lighting Products, Part1” entered into force on August 14, 2015. Manufactures have a period of six month to adjust their products to the requirements of the technical regulation. Registration at SASO is mandatory in order to access the Saudi market.

Slovenia: National Transposition of WEEE Recast

Slovenia has finally transposed Directive 2012/19/EU (WEEE Recast) into national law: Regulation No. 2350 on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (2350. Uredba o odpadni električni in elektronski opremi) was officially published in the Slovenian Official Gazette on July 24, 2015. There are still Germany and Poland missing, which have to publish final legislations. In Belgium, only Flanders has already transposed the WEEE Recast Directive into national law.

Germany: 1cc Supports Retailers in Take Back of WEEE

The new German regulation on WEEE (ElektroG2) is expected to come into force in autumn having passed the German Federal Council in the beginning of July without any amendments. Besides other changes it imposes new obligations on retailers including distance sellers. Amongst others, end users will be allowed to return their WEEE to a retailer free of charge. Retailers have to assure the environmentally sound recycling. Our clients benefit from comprehensive consulting, for instance on information and notification requirements, as well as our administrative services. Together with our affiliated company TechProtect we offer convenient take-back solutions to retailers for 0:1 take-back (this means no initial purchase is made at the same time) as well as for 1:1 take-back (an equivalent device is bought). Are you interested? Please contact:: info@1cc-consulting.com

Saudi Arabia: Draft Technical Regulation for Lighting Products Published

The Saudi Arabian Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization SASO has recently published a draft version of the standard “SASOXXXX:2015, Energy Efficiency, Functionality and Labeling Requirements for Lighting Products, Part1”. The draft standard focuses on indirect and direct lamps having a luminous flux above 60 lumens or below 12 000 lumens. Products in Scope are: • Incandescent lamps • Compact fluorescent lamps with integrated ballast (CFLi) • Halogen lamps • Light-emitting diode (LED) lamps (Incandescent retrofit types) • Light-emitting diode (LED) lamps (Halogen retrofit types) These lighting products have to fulfil a variety of requirements with respect to electrical safety, electromagnetic compatibility, performance, functionality, marking, energy efficiency and hazardous chemicals. When it comes to substance restrictions, the standard basically follows the requirements of EU Directive 2011/65/EU, with the exemption of Mercury. The draft standard requires an energy efficiency label for all products in scope. This specific label for lighting products differs from the so far established energy efficiency label for household electrical appliances and is similar to the respective EU label.

OECD Study on nanomaterials completed – only France has specific regulation so far

Nanomaterials are more and more used in cosmetics, pharmaceutics, paint and further products. The OECD has now completed a 7-year study on nanomaterials. The new findings shall be included into the current test-guidelines for nanomaterials. In the EU, nanomaterials are in general covered by the REACH and CLP regulation; however they are not regulated in a special way. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is already examining if separate rules are necessary for protection of the potential hazards of nanomaterials. Right now, ECHA has called on registrants to update their registration dossiers with the newly available information. French regulation on nanomaterials France has a specific regulation on registration and notification for nanomaterials since 2013. Manufacturers, Importers and distributors have to notify nanomaterials in an annual volume above 100 g to the agency in charge, ANSES. France is expecting further EU-member states to follow the lead and specifies countries like Italy, Belgium and Denmark. Most information on the regulation is only available in French, so companies that seek help for a notification in France are invited to contact 1cc.

1cc Presents at Battery Power 2015 in Denver, Colorado

The Battery Power 2015 is an international conference that will provide you with the most up-to-date developments and technologies in the portable, mobile, consumer battery and power management market. The event will take place August 5^th – 6^th in Denver, Colorado. 1cc consultant Ofira Varga will give the presentation “Battery Take Back: Old Legislation and New Challenges” on August 6^th, 2015 at 9:30 am Based on the practical experience with the EU directive 2006/66/EC in the last couple of years the presentation will outline the most important aspects of battery legislation taking into account the safety issues caused by end-of-life lithium batteries during the collection, transportation and recycling. Further information: www.batterypoweronline.com/conferences/

Two New SVHCs added to REACH Candidate List

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has added two new substances of very high concern (SVHC) to the REACH Candidate List. The Candidate List now contains 163 substances. The two new entries refer to: 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, di-C6-10-alkyl esters; 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, mixed decyl and hexyl and octyl diesters with ≥ 0.3% of dihexyl phthalate (EC No. 201-559-5) which were added to the list due to their reproductive toxicity properties . These substances are used for example as plasticisers and lubricants, including use in adhesives, coatings, building material, cable compounding, polymer foils, PVC compounds and artist supply (e.g. modelling clay and finger paints). 5-sec-butyl-2-(2,4-dimethylcyclohex-3-en-1-yl)-5-methyl-1,3-dioxane [1], 5-sec-butyl-2-(4,6-dimethylcyclohex-3-en-1-yl)-5-methyl-1,3-dioxane [2] [covering any of the individual stereoisomers of [1] and [2] or any combination thereof]: This second SVHC has been added as a group entry with very persistent and very bioaccumulative properties. This group of substances covers, for example, the product with the trade name “karanal”. Public information sources indicate that karanal is mainly used as a fragrance ingredient. More information on http://echa.europa.eu/view-article/-/journal_content/title/two-new-substances-of-very-high-concern-svhcs-added-to-the-candidate-list

1cc Exhibits and Presents at Chemspec Europe in Cologne

This year’s Chemspec Europe – a leading conference for the chemical industry – will take place in Cologne June 24 and 25, 2015. 1cc will participate at the conference at its own booth (RS11). We are looking forward to meeting you! 1cc consultant Nadiia Kaiun will give the presentation “REACH around the Globe – an Update about non-EU Chemical Legislation” on June 25, from 15:00 to 15:30 (Regulatory Services Zone). The presentation will focus on the main differences in chemical legislation in Canada, China, South Korea and Turkey compared to EU REACH and CLP and on certain aspects of organizing compliance efficiently. www.chemspecevents.com/europe

WEEE Recast: EU refers Germany to Court for failure to transpose EU Directive

The European Commission is now referring Germany to the EU Court of Justice: Up to date, Germany has not transposed EU Directive 2012/19/EU on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE Recast) into national law, although the deadline for implementation has expired on February 14, 2014. Due to this failure, the EU Commission is asking the Court, on the basis of the procedure set out in Article 260(3) TFEU, to impose a penalty payment on Germany in the amount of EUR 210 078 per day until the new legislation is enacted. In Germany, the WEEE Recast is transposed by the German ElektroG2. A respective draft legislation has been published and will be discussed in an official hearing by experts on July 17, 2015. Because of the pending financial sanctions, the legislation process could be pushed. So far, the new ElektroG2 was expected to enter into force only at the end of this year.

1cc Presents at Intersolar Europe in Munich

This year’s Intersolar Europe – the world’s leading exhibition for the solar industry and its partners – takes place June 10-12, 2015 in Munich. 1cc consultant Stefanie Enders will give the presentation “European Battery Legislation vs. New Battery Technology?” on June 10, from 5:05 pm to 5:25 pm. The presentation will focus on the need of the development of new battery technologies and legislation that does not keep up with it. We are looking forward to meeting you! Further information: www.intersolar.de/en/home.html