WEEE: „Passive” Devices in Scope of German ElektroG

Effective May 1, 2019 the so-called “passive” devices will fall within the scope of the German ElektroG: Electrical and electronic equipment that conduct electricity have to be registered under the following categories as applicable for each device, or added to the monthly reporting for registrations that already exist:

• Small appliances
• Small appliances for IT and Telecommunication
• Large appliances

Passive devices include antennas, adapters, jacks, connectors, sockets, wall plugs, ready-made cables, switches, push buttons and electric fuses.

We would be happy to place our expertise at your disposal, particularly in

• evaluating which of your products are affected
• managing the registration process for new products in scope
• integrating passive devices in existing reporting routines
• monitoring the development of legislation regarding passive devices in further EU countries

Please contact us at contact@1cc-consulting.com

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.

1cc’s Webinar on September 20, 2018: WEEE Open Scope

Businesses selling EEE across Europe face considerable change regarding the requirements under the WEEE Directive 2012/19/EU. From August 15, 2018, all EEE in scope of the Directive have to be classified according to the new categorization. Furthermore, the ‘open scope’ encompasses further products under the EEE definition and thus these are subject to WEEE obligations.

In order to help companies to understand these changes throughout this transition period, 1cc will organize a webinar in September 2018.

Gerli Wacowski, Consultant/Compliance Professional at 1cc GmbH, will provide an insight into the main consequences and updates about WEEE Open Scope. The webinar will include examples of implementation in selected countries in the EU.

Title: WEEE Open Scope in EU: Consequences and Updates
Date: September 20, 2018, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM CEST
Language: English
Registration Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4255692034133907715

PS: Participation in the webinar is free of charge. However, the number of participants in the webinar is limited to 20 attendees.

WEEE Directive: Open Scope Effective as of August 15, 2018

Businesses affected by the WEEE Directive 2012/19/EU have to adapt to considerable changes in the near future: starting August 15, 2018, all EEE within the scope of the Directive has to be classified according to the so-called ‘open scope’.

Firstly, the 10 current EEE categories will be replaced by six new categories listed in Annex III of the WEEE Directive. As of the open scope period, any equipment that falls under the definition of EEE as set out in Article 3 (1) (a), is in scope.

Secondly, several national compliance schemes and authorities in various EU countries are already working on a new structure that will consequently affect:
– Registration categories (i.e., registration adjustments needed)
– Declaration categories (i.e., several sub-categories)
– Price lists of compliance schemes

As we know today, the requirements vary in the different EU Member States. Thus, the producers will continue to face complex WEEE fulfilment obligations due to the lack of harmonization (i.e. several sub-categories) amongst the different national compliance schemes.

Want to learn more about the open scope and the implementation status in the EU countries? 1cc offers a next webinar reference to WEEE Open Scope in September 2018. Exact webinar date will be published on our website soon.

Circular Economy Package Published in the EU Official Journal

The four Directives known as the “Circular Economy Package” were published in the EU Official Journal on June 14, 2018. They entered into force on July 4, 2018. From that date, Member States will have two years to transpose the rules into national legislation.

The Directives amend the following Directives of European waste legislation:
• Directive 2008/98/EC on waste
• Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste
• Directive 2006/66/EC on batteries accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators
• Directive 2012/19/EU on waste electrical and electronic equipment
• Directive 2000/53/EC on end-of-life vehicles
• Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste

The new legislation strengthens the “waste hierarchy”, i.e. it requires Member States to take specific measures to prioritize prevention, re-use and recycling above landfilling and incineration, thus making the circular economy a reality.

Besides increased waste avoidance, higher recycling rates are foreseen: For example, the rates for packaging waste shall increase as follows: From 2025, 65% and from 2030, 70% will be recycled. A recycling rate of 50% will apply to plastic packaging until 2025. A rate of 55% applies until 2030.

Furthermore, there will be reuse targets for textiles, used electrical equipment and bulky waste. By 2025, 5% should be reused, by 2030 at least 15%.
The rate of reused sales and transport packaging placed on the market must also be increased.

WEEE Open Scope: 1cc’s Webinar on May 17, 2018

Businesses selling EEE across Europe will face considerable change in the near future regarding the requirements under the WEEE Directive 2012/19/EU. Starting August 15, 2018, all EEE in scope of the Directive have to be classified according to the new categorization. Furthermore, the ‘open scope’ will encompass further products under the EEE definition and thus become subject to WEEE obligations.

In order to help companies understand the changes throughout the transition period, 1cc will organize a webinar in May 2018.

Meike Ruoff, Director at 1cc GmbH, will provide an insight into the main updates and consequences of the WEEE Open Scope. The webinar will include examples of implementation in selected countries in the EU.

Title: WEEE Open Scope in EU: Consequences and Updates

Date: May 17, 2018, 3:00PM-4:00PM CEST

Language: English

Registration Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5157177215963441921

PS: Participation in the webinar is free of charge. However, the number of participants in the webinar is limited to 20 attendees.

Spain: New Categories already Applicable for Q1 2018 WEEE Reporting

The latest changes to the Royal Decree 110/2015 in Spain will enter into force on August 15, 2018.

However, new categories and sub-categories will be applicable for reporting as early as April 2018. Consequently, producers are required to submit the 1st quarter data report for the 7 new categories, as well (currently there are 10 categories).

The so-called ‘open scope’ is an important innovation in that the legal scope encompasses all electrical and electronic equipment.

Moreover, as of August 2018 new devices will be added to the scope:

-sensors, electric switches, electrical motors and generators

-print consumables, such as cartridges and toners that contain electronic or electric parts

-luminaires

All these devices will have to be declared, without exceptions.

We highly recommend that you pay close attention to the new criteria relative to the external product dimensions, where a distinction is made between small and large equipment with an edge length of more or less than 50 cm (see the attachment from EWRN)

The following points are especially important:

1. Are there any additional products that you have not yet registered?
2. Is an additional registration necessary? (based on the new product-dimensions criteria)

We would be pleased to place our expertise at your convenience and support you with the next necessary steps (i.e. additional registration, notification of request/correction of category).

For more information, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@1cc-consulting.com.

WEEE Directive: Open Scope Coming in 2018

Businesses affected by the WEEE Directive 2012/19/EU will face a considerable update in the near future: starting from August 15, 2018, all EEE in scope of the Directive has to be classified according to the so called ‘open scope’.

Firstly, the 10 current EEE categories will be replaced by the six new categories listed in Annex III of the WEEE Directive. From the open scope period onwards, any equipment that falls under the definition of EEE as set out in Article 3 (1) (a) is in scope.

Secondly, several national compliance schemes and authorities in various EU countries are already working on a new structure. This new structure will consequently affect:

• Registration categories (i.e. registration adjustments needed)
• Declaration categories (i.e. several sub-categories)
• Price lists of compliance schemes

As we know from today, various requirements exist in the different EU Member States. Thus, the complexity for producers fulfilling their WEEE obligations will remain in the future, since no harmonization (i.e. several sub-categories) is expected among the different national compliance schemes.

We will keep you in the loop!

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

German ElektroG: Amendment enters into force on June 1, 2017

The Law amending the German Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG) passed the German Bundesrat and was published in the Federal Law Gazette. The new law enters into force on June 1, 2017.

Due to the fact that not all retailers fulfil their take-back obligation, this default can now be assessed as an administrative offense and be punished with a fine of up to 100,000 Euros: This can apply if a device is not taken back, if the take-back was done in a non-correct or incomplete way or not in a timely manner.

The law also defines the term of “household quantity” according to § 17 in detail by the fact that the obligation to take back a product is limited to five pieces of WEEE per device type (0:1 take-back obligation for small waste equipment).

Belgium: Wallonia Region transposes EU WEEE Directive 2012/19/EU

After several years of delay, the Wallonia region of Belgium published its national implementation law of EU WEEE Directive 2012/19/EU. The respective Decree of March 9, 2017 was officially published on April 26, 2017. It entered into force 10 days after its publication.

The national harmonization was due to be fulfilled by February 14, 2014. In April of this year, the EU Commission requested Belgium to enact the EU WEEE legislation.

The Decree of March 9, 2017 of Wallonia Government amends the Decree of September 23, 2010, establishing take back obligation for some types of waste. The latter amended Decree of March 10, 2005, which defined the sectorial conditions for the facilities of waste collection and sorting, of pre-treatment and of the treatment of WEEE.