Directive Decoder

The Eco-design of Energy using Products (EuP) Directive will require manufacturers to consider eco-design when building new products. Currently studies are underway to define what measures are required, but the European Commission (EC) has yet to make decisions on new legislation that will impose eco-design criteria.
Typical examples of products that could be affected:

• Any mains powered product that has a standby mode – e.g. printers, scanners, etc.
• Any mains powered product that does not have an off-switch that disconnects the mains power.
• Lighting equipment – office, domestic and street (ballasts, bulbs, etc)
• Electric motors 1 – 150 KW
• Some external power supplies and battery chargers
• Printers
• Air compressors
• Vacuum cleaners

REACH is a new EU regulation that aims to control hazardous substances by ensuring that all chemicals are fully tested by industry and used in safe ways.
Typical examples of products that could be affected:
• Chemicals and preparations include: Oil, grease and other lubricants, adhesives, cutting fluids, cleaning solvents, paints, flux, thinners, liquid soaps, handwash, disinfectants, metal and furniture polish, detergents, coatings (varnish, conformal and corrosion protective), metal bar, sheet, etc.
• Articles as containers for preparations, aerosol cans, marker pens, ink cartridges, brillo soap pads, alcohol wipes, etc.
• Articles with releasable chemicals – soap with a fragrance that is released. Also, potentially all electrical equipment if the authorities decide that metals recovered by recycling should be regarded as a foreseeable release.
REACH also indirectly affects equipment manufacturers because materials such as paints and adhesives that are used in production processes contain chemicals.

A meeting was held in Beijing on December 19th driven by the China Quality Management Association for Electronics Industry (CQAE). The main topic was to discuss the future development of the so called China RoHS “catalogue”.

Ahead of its release, initial proposals and comments are sought from industry associations, authorities and business. An “expert panel” (to be established) will make an assessment based on technical and economic factors.

From this, a report will be published and released for public comment. The subsequent conclusions will be submitted for government approval.

While there is no firm date for the publication of the full catalogue it was announced at the meeting that an initial, “symbolic”, catalogue, containing a few products will be made available by December 2008.

Some of the issues faced ahead of the proposed development include: